Preview: Emily's Time To Shine In Shepparton Cup?

LAKEVIEW Emily is ideally placed to break her feature race hoodoo after drawing box one in Saturday night's Group 2 Shepparton Cup.

The striking white and blue daughter of Fernando Bale is a two-time group 1 runner-up but is yet to salute in seven attempts at group level. 

However, the inside draw looks ideal and the bookmakers have responded accordingly, installing Lakeview Emily the short favourite for the $40,000 to the winner final. 

The fastest heat winner made it two wins from two starts at the central Victoria circuit but was made to work for the victory. She stepped well but was unable to cross Zipping Gryllis in the dash to the first turn and was forced to switch to the middle of the track as they swung for home, eventually reeling in the lamp lighter to claim a three-quarter of a length victory.

Her winning time of 29.89 was two lengths faster than Bendigo Cup winner Boracay Storm and the three other heat winners within two lengths of his time.

The winner of Saturday's final would join some of the sport's greats on the Shepparton Cup honour roll. First run in 1973, the Shepparton Cup has been won by some of the sport's greatest sprinters, including Highly Blessed, Head Honcho, Kantarn Bale, Whisky Assassin, El Grand Senor and Hard Style Rico.

The 2025 renewal of the Shepparton Cup will be run on Saturday night.

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1. LAKEVIEW EMILY

Trainer: Harley Whelan

Heat: 24.89

Fastest heat winner drawn ideally, placed in all seven starts from the red including five wins. A seven-time group race finalist – a two-time group 1 runner-up – Lakeview Emily is one of the fastest bitches in the land, blessed with early speed but will be under enormous pressure early so is imperative she steps and holds her place. Clearly the one to beat.

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2. LEO BALE

Trainer: Rebecca Gibbons

Heat: 25.09 (second to Description)

Stepped brilliantly but was unable to hold out heat winner Description through the first turn, but despite losing his position fought back to find the line well just a length from the winner. Drawn the same box here from which he has a very good record (4:3-1-0) and should improve off his first start at the track. Wasn't far away in the Horsham Cup and has won four of five starts in top grade. Is a good each way chance at a big price.

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3. DESCRIPTION

Trainer: Rebecca Gibbons

Heat: 25.02

Couldn't have done much more than he did in his heat and draws the same box here. Ran second three times at group level in two months mid-2024 before losing his way a little. Has rediscovered his early speed in his last eight starts and is capable of causing an upset.

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4. BORACAY STORM

Trainer: David Geall

Heat: 25.01

Bendigo Cup winner racing in great form, winning six of his last nine with three second placings. Is an elite one-turn sprinter with excellent early speed, his recent city racing should have him stronger at the finish as well. The draw is potentially a little tricky – he must step – but if he does he's a winning chance.

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5. SLICK BADGER

Trainer: Shane Pulbrook

Heat: 25.13

New South Wales youngster ready to peak here. Still a month shy of his second birthday, built an excellent record in his home state before beginning preparations for this series. Improved in each of his first three starts at the track and led clearly in his heat before being headed. Pleasingly, he found the line well to claim victory, however he is unlikely to get a chance to recover should he surrender a lead here. 

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6. KRAKEN WHISKY

Trainer: Mark Morrisy

Heat: 25.09

Had won just one of his first seven starts this track and distance but has flicked the switch of late, winning his last three. His time two starts back was 0.02 faster than the fastest heat winner, however he lacks speed of those beneath him making the draw challenging. 

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7. ZIPPING GRYLLIS

Trainer: Brooke Ennis

Heat: 24.95 (second to Lakeview Emily)

Impressed behind fastest heat winner, Lakeview Emily, powering through the first turn before being caught late. Versatile, having finished runner up in the Healesville and Geelong Cups in 2024, however has been a little inconsistent of late and his record from the wider draw is modest.

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8. FERNANDO PHIL

Trainer: Michelle Mallia

Heat: 25.07 (second to Boracay Storm)

Eight-time group race finalist including a victory in the 2024 Horsham Cup. Winless in his last 10 (placed in five) though has been racing against some very good greyhounds. Had every chance to win his heat from box 1, and with his modest early speed, it's a much harder task from box eight here and hard to see him getting a run at the leaders.

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Verdict: Lakeview Emily (1) just ticks so many boxes – early speed, form, draw – and will deservedly start a clear favourite. There was a lot to like about Slick Badger (5) and his heat run, and given his potential upside brings X-factor to the race. Leo Bale (2) has the early speed to capitalise on the draw and be prominent early and is a good each way chance at big odds.