Crumble Monelli Leads WA Sandgroper Domination

CRUMBLE Monelli has led home an all Western Australian domination of Friday night's $500,000 The Sandgroper (520m) at Cannington.

The Dave Hobby-trained son of Barcia Bale led from go to whoa in the $300,000-to-the-winner feature which saw WA greyhounds land the first four placings over the line.

Finishing a gallant second was Momentum while Elite Machine grabbed third with Electrified finishing fourth.

Co-favourites Victa Damian and Wow She's Fast finished fifth and seventh respectively and were never really in the hunt.

For Crumble Monelli, the all-the-way victory catapults the 14-time winner to one of the sport's most exciting young sprinters, now boasting prize money rapidly closing in on $500,000.

Crumble Monelli took his place in The Sandgroper as the representative of Total Container Solutions, with the team out in force to cheer on their charge at Cannington on Friday night.

For Dave Hobby it was yet another big race triumph for WA's premier trainer, adding the inaugural The Sandgroper to a mantelpiece that boasts almost every feature WA has to offer.

David Hobby joined @PeterON68 after a big win from Crumble Monelli in the Sandgroper!@TAB_touch @TABradio pic.twitter.com/ZqxQOrLdfU

— The Dogs WA (@TheDogsWA) April 14, 2023

"Really proud of the dog and thankful to Total Container Solutions for the opportunity," Hobby said after the race.

"I was confident the dog was ready to run a big race this week and he didn't disappoint. I'm still not sure we've seen the best of him – it's all very exciting."

While Crumble Monelli's victory is one to savour, it's perhaps the run of Momentum to finish second that carries the most sentiment.

The 28-time winner was the last dog to take a place in the field after star conveyance Throttle succumbed to a career ending injury just a week out from the race.

Following Throttle's injury, Team Guess went on the hunt for a last minute replacement, deciding on Momentum for trainer Cosi Dagostino.

And the grand campaigner didn't let the team down, finishing second from his plumb box one draw, earning connections a $75,000 payday.  

Crumble Monelli's The Sandgroper win follows the third place finish by litter brother Custard Monelli in last Saturday's Group 1 Golden Easter Egg at Wentworth Park.

Custard Monelli has remained on the eastern seaboard to contest heats of the Nowra Puppy Classic on Sunday.

The pathway forward for Hobby and Crumble Monelli is undefined.

“He (Crumble Monelli) had me worried in the Perth Cup series but an MRI cleared what I considered might be a hock issue,” Hobby added.

“His early speed is quite exceptional and his early zip is good enough to lead most top class fields.

“Crumble's sections in The Sandgroper (5.36, 18.19) were much like what Sunset Spitfire used to run and he was an exceptional dog.

“Spitfire ran it week-in-week-out and his pups are showing great promise  – high speed.”

At just 26 months of age, the siblings are eligible for the upcoming $40,000 to-the-winner WA Derby at Cannington which clashes with the Group 1 Harrison Dawson at Sandown.

Maybe, next time, it will be Custard to stay at home while Crumble ticks up Frequent Flyer miles … a nice problem for Dave Hobby to mull over.