Box 1 – Canya All Class (Mintbet)
Canya All Class took to Cannington like a duck to water in his trial, posting a scorching 29.38 which included a 11.16 run home. The versatile Victorian has won over several distances and was 4th in the Australian Cup back in February. He has a good box 1 record but that was mostly achieved over longer distances and lower grade and I’m concerned about how he has handled inside draws in recent times. His tendency to want to push up the track and go around dogs is a concern in a race where there will be no margin for error. He’s a risk for mine.
Box 2 – Good Odds Cobber (Chasebet)
Good Odds Cobber won the Group 1 Gold Bullion at Albion Park in January, a track that is very similar to Cannington and has since claimed features at both Bulli and Temora. The Golden Easter Egg finalist has the early speed to lead this race and he is only open to improvement off his 29.41 trial. He can be hit and miss at box rise and that’s a concern with Deadly Avenger and Explicit outside him wanting to move towards the rail. A clean beginning makes him very hard to beat.
Box 3 – Deadly Avenger (Ladbrokes)
The Perth Cup winner returns to the scene of the crime and is clearly the one who has the runs on the board at the track and trip. That being said, he was the recipient of a soft heat during the Perth Cup series and he took full advantage of a perfect map from box 1 in the final. Granted he showed the class to cash in but he has certainly not been afforded those luxuries here. With the two dogs inside him looking to push up the track and Explicit on his outside, he’ll need a perfect break to have clear air and his best sectional in WA to date has been 5.50. Will that be enough?
Box 4 – Explicit (Awesome Lodge)
The champ is back and what a thrill to have him back in our own backyard. The 2024 Melbourne Cup and Pheonix winner is out of retirement and had a tune up for this race with a slippery 23.57 effort at Bendigo in late March. All reports from connections is that he is ready to go for this race, which is at odds with a rumoured trial of 21.54 over 381 metres at Cannington. He’s trained by the best in the business and his map is very good being boxed next to West On Sidney who gets back, and Deadly Avenger who will move left. If he is anywhere near his best, lookout.
Box 5 – West On Sidney (Total Container Solutions/Team Britton)
West On Sidney is the track record holder on the new track and trialled a sizzling 29.23 in preparation for the Sandgroper, the best time by some way. He is a dog who can run frightening sectionals when given clear room and is an X-factor in this race for sure. He’s only just graduated from Novice company and is still very green which is a concern for a run on dog against a field of this calibre. He also needs the rail to produce his best. We’ll be seeing plenty more of Sidney in 2025 but this looks an enormous task for a dog this inexperienced.
Box 6 – Miss Envy (Sportsbet)
I’m not sure who Miss Envy (pictured) has upset but the star WA bitch has been cursed with box draws in the big WA features. Miss Envy is a classy type and whilst she can run the time of the others, it’s her racing qualities and will to win that is her biggest edge. The draw is horrible with the pacey Lakeview Emily in 7 who will want to cut down to the rail. She’s had bad draws before and managed to get the job done, to do it against this field would be something special.
Box 7 – Lakeview Emily (RAM Racing Syndicate)
The most popular slot holders of the Western Trilogy have a live hope with Lakeview Emily in this year’s event. Emily went through the Golden Easter Egg series where she finished third in the final and her early splits in that series could serve as the point of difference here. The map is good with no pace in 5, Miss Envy moving left and Tim Zoo outside won’t bother her. If my read of the race is correct on the inside dogs, she could pinch a break if finding the front. She has plenty of improvement in her off the 29.65 trial and is one at value who can play a part.
Box 8 – Tim Zoo (TABtouch)
Tim Zoo is an excitement machine and is always a point of discussion in any feature race. He was a runner up in the Australian Cup behind Mepunga Tully and has been competitive wherever he has gone. He can run the time but he also has plenty of tricks and that was on display last start when he seemingly had the beating of Deadly Avenger at the Meadows but was not able to get past. Box 8 isn’t exactly ideal for him but with Lakeview Emily carving across, he does get room here and is far from hopeless early. He’s an each-way price and it would be no shock to see him storming into it.
Tip – #7 Lakeview Emily
Lakeview Emily has been well backed and I’m going to take the punt that she can cross this field and give plenty of cheek. Like the rest of the field she has no margin for error but I was against the inside runners as I thought they were all boxed the wrong side of each other. Explicit and Tim Zoo where the other key chances in the race and can certainly make their presence felt.
Betting aside, this year’s Sandgroper is sure to be a spectacle and is the strongest race WA has ever seen. Best of luck!