Lasker's Darwin Cup Duo Will ‘Need A Bit Of Luck'

70-year-old Andrew Lasker, admits he will need "a bit of luck" to win Sunday's Group 3 Darwin Cup Final but says both his finalists are boxed perfectly.

HUMPTY Doo owner-trainer, 70-year-old Andrew Lasker, admits he will need “a bit of luck” to win Sunday night's Group 3 Darwin Cup Final (537m) but says both his finalists are boxed perfectly.

Lasker, and his partner Cathy, will be represented by Mighty Marshall in box two and Sketchy Butler in box eight and they come into the race off heat placings last week.

Lasker is the only trainer with two Cup finalists.

“I had a runner in last year's Cup final but that was a ‘Covid Cup' and it probably doesn't count,” Lasker said.

“Both these finalists are about the same in ability and both are drawn where they want to be. But, gee it is a very strong final and they will need some luck to go their way.”

Mighty Marshall was bought from Victoria in May.

“I spotted him on Greyhound Data and kept looking at the advert to sell him,” he said. “Eventually I contacted the owner and bought him.

“We like to pay a bit for the dogs we buy and get a better class of race. He wasn't cheap.”

Mighty Marshall had won at Geelong, Warrnambool, Sandown, Horsham and Bendigo before heading to Darwin to join the Lasker kennel.

Sketchy Butler came from Allan Ivers in NSW.

“We've had him for some time and he's been a great dog for us,” Andrew said.

“And he hasn't gone better than he is right now. He's running out of his skin at the moment.”

Sketchy Butler was a winner at The Gardens and Gosford before going north.

He has won 16 races in a long career.

Lasker believes the opposition in this year's final is tough.

CLICK HERE FOR DARWIN CUP FIELDS AND FORM

“If I'm Explosive managed to get to the front, it would be hard to catch,” he said.

“And Sunburst is showing lots of pace and that will help its case.”

Lasker has been in Darwin since 1998 originally from Dubbo and then Bourke.

“My dad had greyhounds when I was 15 so it has never got out of me,” he said.

“When Cathy and I retired back in 2016 we looked around for something to do and decided bowls and golf would be too boring, so we got into greyhounds.”

They now have six dogs in training including Go Quantum which is a chance in the Cup Consolation.

“He's better than the two in the Cup final, but he's had no luck at all in recent runs,” he said.

******************

RIVAL trainer Peter Donnolley has rails runner Vice Grip in the final and believes without the rails draw the dog would have struggled in the final.

“We've already had some good luck for the race drawing the rails,” Peter said.

Vice Grip came from Victoria several months ago to get ready for the Cup series sent north by owner Glen Pask and trainer Gerry O'Keeffe.

“I still don't know how they got in contact with me to take the dog,” said Donnolley. “But, I'm glad they did. He is a really nice dog and gets his chance off the one box.”

Donnolley rates I'm Explosive the one to beat again.

“She beat Vice Grip in the heat last week and I was surprised she got to him so quickly in the back straight.”

Latest News Articles