Sandgroper Heavyweights Shine At Sandown

VICTORIAN superstars Big Energy and Explicit starred at Sandown Park on Thursday night in their final hit-outs before heading to Western Australia for the $600,000 The Sandgroper.

Big Energy, which will fill Mintbet's slot in WA's richest greyhound race at Cannington on Thursday week, April 18, made a sensational return from inury with a sizzling 29.15 Best Of Night romp.

Sandgroper favourite Explicit, which will represent Punters HQ, was a narrow 29.37 winner, the second quickest performance at the meeting.

Big Energy, trained by Kel and Jackie Greenough, had been sidelined since running sixth to Explicit in the G1 Temlee at The Meadows on February 10.

Returning to his favourite venue for the first time since finishing runner-up in the G1 Melbourne Cup, Big Energy ($2.10F) trounced Elite Alex by an ever-widening 8.5 lengths.

"It was a nice return," said Kel Greenough, never one to get carried away.

"He'd been out for a while, so I just wanted to clear the cobwebs out before the race in Perth.

"I wasn't so much worried about the time, I was just hoping for a win. 

"But I trialled him at Sandown two weeks ago and he went about two lengths slower than last night, so I figured he was pretty close to the mark.

"He's probably 95 per cent right. He just needed that bit of field practice. 

"I actually gave him a half-field trial at Warragul last week, which is a bit unusual for me, but I just thought he needed that match practice.

"He's not a big dog, so he's a bit of a confidence dog."

Big Energy started his career in WA and will now return to familiar territory for the $300,000 to-the-winner Sandgroper.

With The Sandgroper field comprising seven Victorians and just one local, Sunset Frazier, Big Energy's three from six record at Cannington could provide a crucial edge.

"I think it helps, because whenever you go interstate it's difficult, especially when you go to Perth," Greenough explained.

"They've got to handle the flight and the new surroundings. 

"We'll be staying with Steve Withers and Big Energy has been at Steve's place before he came to Victoria.

"He's been around Cannington enough times, so I'll just give him one refresher there next week and then hope for box one!"

Big Energy is currently $4 second elect for The Sandgroper with Explicit $2.70 favourite.

After winning the G2 Shepparton Cup, Explicit returned to ‘500' for the first time since the Australian Cup semi-finals on February 17 when leading all-the-way at Sandown, staving off Succeed by a neck.

Digging deep to boost his imposing record to 15 from 19, the $1.40 hot pot pleased champion trainer Jason Thompson ahead of his first interstate expedition.

"More than happy with him," Thompson said.

"He hadn't had a ‘500' for a while and hadn't been out of the Sandown boxes since August.

"Obviously, for him, he missed the start, he was one of the last out when the lids went up. He was probably due to miss it, so hopefully he's got that out of the way now.

"He worked his way to the front and him and Succeed raced each other for about 300m. He showed a lot of fight. He's a winner; he knows how to win.

"I'd like to think he'll be fine with the trip away. 

"He'll trial at Cannington next Saturday night and then back-up into the Sandgroper on the Thursday."