Preview: G1 Harrison-Dawson, Sapphire Crown

TWO mouthwatering Group 1 finals highlight week two of the lucrative Sandown May carnival on Thursday night.

The sport's newest star, Dashing Slay, will start favourite for the bitches-only Sapphire Crown following her stunning 29.01 heat win. The Launching Pad winner has been outstanding since crossing from South Australia and a win in the group 1 feature will confirm her status as the sport's hottest young prospect.

In the series for the male sprinters, the Harrison-Dawson, a high class field has been assembled for the race first run in 2012. 

The final features four group 1 winners and over $3.2m in prize money won. Most bookmakers have posted Temlee winner Tim Zoo as the $3 favourite, however with six of the finalists in single figure quotes, the race shapes as a fascinating spectacle for punters and fans alike. 

FIELDS AND FORM SANDOWN PARK THURSDAY NIGHT

Alongside the two $113,000 finals are four heats of the club's premier staying event, the iconic Sandown Cup. Association Cup winner Apilla is favourite for the series ahead of her debut at the View Road circuit, but with seven runners in single figures in the all-in market, it too shapes as a fascinating series.

The winner and runner up of each Sandown Cup will progress to the $150,000 final on Friday 23 May.

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GROUP 1 SAPPHIRE CROWN (race 7)

1. BOURNE MODEL

Trainer: David Peckham

Heat: 29.64

South Australian racing in great form. Was only average away from box six in her heat but stayed patient as she worked her way down to the rail and was good enough to capitalise when others found trouble. Will need to improve further to win but the drawn brings her into calculations for the exotics. 

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2. PAW OCTAVIA

Trainer: Sam Grenfell

Heat: 29.61

Her heat win was just her second in 13 starts. Came from a long way off to score the upset of the night when winning her heat, finding the rail from the wide draw and finishing strongly. The draw is more favourable but doesn't have the speed to be prominent and will need a lot of things to go right (and a lot of things to go wrong for others). 

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3. DASHING SLAY

Trainer: Kayla Cotrell

Heat: 29.01

Still two months shy of her second birthday and already one of the country's premier sprinting bitches. The Launching Pad winner was superlative in her heat, running a blistering 4.98 early while still getting home in 10.50. May get some pressure from out wide but that hasn't deterred her in previous starts. Is undefeated in four starts at Sandown Park and there's no reason to think she can't make it five.

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4. TREFUSIS

Trainer: Emma Scott

Heat: 29.45 (2nd to Gambella)

Former Tasmanian that reached the Hobart Thousand final at her ninth start. Led clearly in her heat before getting a stitch late. That early speed should help her keep out of any early trouble but she will be vulnerable late. 

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5. DR ZEEKA

Trainer: Kim McMahon

Heat: 29.83 (2nd to Bourne Model)

Worked home well in her heat after the leaders found trouble but all seven of her career wins have been at Sale and just won above grade 5 level. Can't have here.

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6. GAMBELLA

Trainer: Anthony Azzopardi

Heat: 29.23

A class greyhound that cannot draw a box, jumping from the inside half of the draw just twice in her last nine starts (and one of those starts was from box 4). Despite that, has an excellent record at the track (10: 6-2-1) and a 29.04 best. Isn't brilliant out of the boxes but is all class.

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7. TULLY LUNA

Trainer: Jeff Britton

Heat: 29.66 (2nd to Paw Octavia)

Winless in her last 15 starts but has been placed nine times in that time. Has form over the middle distances but her lack of early speed makes this extremely difficult.

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8. LAKEVIEW EMILY

Trainer: Harley Whelan

Heat: 29.20 (2nd to Dashing Slay)

Class greyhound that drew perfectly in her heat and while she had no answer to Dashing Slay, still ran the second fastest time of the series. Is at home in this grade, lining up in her seventh group 1 final and is honest as the day is long. Should have the speed to cross and has won six of seven from the draw. 

Verdict:

DASHING SLAY (3) was brilliant through the Launching Pad series and was even better last week. If she repeats that performance she wins again. GAMBELLA (6) keeps finding a way to overcome bad draws. LAKEVIEW EMILY (8) is all class but had no excuse last week from a better draw, however can capitalise should those beneath her not step. BOURNE MODEL (1) could run a cheeky race from the draw and can fill a hole at a big price.

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HARRISON-DAWSON (race 8)

1. VAN WYCK

Trainer: Jeff Britton

Heat: 29.70 (2nd to Wyong Dallas)

A nice greyhound with a solid record. Has won four from five from this box and his 29.36 best was from this draw, which may not be enough to win this.

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2. TIM ZOO

Trainer: Jason Thompson

Heat: 29.19 (2nd to Deadly Avenger)

An outstanding chaser lining up in his seventh group 1 final having won twice at this level previously. Can be average at box rise and is winless in his last seven, however this is his best draw at city level in some time and is an excellent race dog. The logical favourite, though he can be vulnerable early.  

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3. FIELD DAY

Trainer: Jason Thompson

Heat: 29.38 (2nd to Morton)

A genuine talent that musters quickly though his first step can put him in an awkward position, particularly against top class competition. Is capable of running time if he gets clear running early, but that is a big if. Deserves a big race win.

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4. MEPUNGA REWARD

Trainer: Jeff Britton

Heat: 29.06

Powerful heat winner in the fastest time of the series. Isn't quick early but is as strong as any in the race and is a determined chaser having missed a place just twice in 23 starts. Not sure where he'll be at the first turn, but will be doing his best work late.

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5. MORTON

Trainer: Jason Sharp

Heat: 29.32

An outstanding group 1 winning chaser and winner of five of his last seven. Was very good in his heat though his overall time was only modest compared to some of his rivals. Should get clear enough running if he steps but there's no margin for error from this draw, something he's used to in big race deciders.

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6. DEADLY AVENGER

Trainer: Joe Borg

Heat: 29.11

Racing as well as any greyhound in the country, returning from a successful The Sandgroper campaign to win his heat in 29.11. Another that hasn't had a great run of boxes but has had enough early speed to overcome the draws. That speed will be key to his chances but the race maps OK if he steps.

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7. FLYING ZULU

Trainer: Jason Thompson

Heat: 29.33 (2nd to Mepunga Reward)

A class greyhound that just refuses to run a bad race. Drew the same box in his heat and had no answer for Mepunga Reward when having the perfect sit on on his outer. Will need a bit of luck, but can get a cart into the race and his 28.84 best at the track says he is a chance – a big chance.

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8. WYONG DALLAS

Trainer: Tom Dailly

Heat: 29.68

The baby of the field building a really nice record having won nine of 17 starts with seven minor placings. Has enough early speed to be prominent early but is likely to be posted wide and doesn't have the strength to come from behind. 

Verdict:

A wide open, high class group 1 field. DEADLY AVENGER (6) has been racing in outstanding form and despite a tricky draw, can win again. TIM ZOO (2) is all class but may get shuffled back on the fence from the draw. MEPUNGA REWARD (4) will be powering home and is a great each way chance. FIELD DAY (3)? It's all about box rise.

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SANDOWN CUP HEATS

Race 3: (heat 1): 8-6-4-7

Race 4: (heat 2): 8-2-4-7

Race 5: (heat 3): 2-4-1-7

Race 6: (heat 4): 1-4-8-2

Quaddie: 1247 / 1248 / 368 / 246 = $50 for 34.7%