Runner By Runner: Group 1 Sapphire Crown

THURSDAY night's Sapphire Crown is shaping up as one of the races of the season with three of the country's most exciting bitches aiming for group 1 glory.

Wow She's Fast, Kelsey Bale and Baby Jaycee – as well as rising star Magic Muffin – make for a mouth watering contest that sees the quartet vying for favouritism in the $160,000 final.

FIELDS AND FORM SANDOWN PARK THURSDAY

All four would be a worthy addition to the Sapphire Crown honour roll that features some of the sport's greatest female sprinters. Since 2000, Bogie Leigh, Paua To Burn (twice), Betty's Angel, Cindeen Shelby, Xylia Allen, Black Opium and last year's winner Wow She's Fast have claimed the country's premier race for bitches.

So who wins it?

Here's a look at each runner's chances.

1. Magic Muffin, $4.40

Trainer: Paul Bartolo

Heat: 29.51 (second to Baby Jaycee)

Magic Muffin oozes ability but has largely been confined to restricted company prior to contesting this series.  Her 29.17 best time set in February – splitting a stunning 4.94 – showed her potential but she hasn't been able to reproduce that performance to the frustration of trainer Paul Bartolo. She was average at box rise in her heat but pressed Baby Jaycee all the way. Red box is a big plus – she led all of the way in winning both of her previous starts from the red, both of which were at Sandown Park (running 29.55 and 29.25). Interestingly, her great granddam was two time Sapphire Crown winner Paua To Burn.

 Can she win? Yes, especially given the draw.

2. Pepita, $26

Trainer: Daryl Holmes

Heat: 29.70 (second to Wow She's Fast)

The baby of the field with just nine starts to her name. Has missed a place just once in that time, winning in 29.32 three starts ago. Was modestly away in her heat before working to the line well behind Wow She's Fast, albeit five and a half lengths adrift. The lower draw is a plus, but will need to step better.

Can she win? Unlikely without big improvement in both her first split and overall time.

3. Let's Win Coin, $19

Trainer: Jessica Sharp

Heat: 29.49 (second to Plagiarise)

Last year's runner-up returns with a similar form line – she ran second in her heat in 2022 running 29.48. Has been in the money in half of her 20 starts at Sandown Park, though has only won on three occasions. Has been beginning well can take a forward position.

Can she win? Unlikely. Will need to do everything right and find an ounce of luck.

She's back with a bang!

Reigning champion WOW SHE'S FAST showed her class in the first heat of the Group 1 @sportsbetcomau #SapphireCrown at @sandowndogs off a limited preparation.

She should be better for the run when she attempts to defend her title in next week's final. pic.twitter.com/PAt623jEHN

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) May 11, 2023

4. Kelsey Bale, $3.70

Trainer: Daniel Gibbons

Heat: 29.50 (third to Plagiarise)

The undisputed queen of the Victorian country cup circuit is an accomplished city performer having won the Laurels at Sandown last December and the Silver Bullet at The Meadows. She was good enough to overcome a tardy start and early squeeze in her heat. Last at the post the first time, she found the rail and powered home to finish a close third and qualify for her 13^th group final. That was her first defeat in six starts and while she will want to get out better, she is good enough to overcome trouble.

Can she win? Yes. She has the form, the class and the chase to claim her first group 1.

5. Plagiarise, $8.50

Trainer: Brooke Ennis

Heat: 29.43

Took full advantage of box 1 in her heat, winning at her first start in over six months and just her third start in nine months. Showed good ability prior her extended period off the track, and if she can repeat her first split she can be prominent in the final, though with little form there's a lot of unknowns about her.

 Can she win? Doubtful from the draw and against the quality of the opposition.

6. Baby Jaycee, $3.90

Trainer: Bob Douglas

Heat: 29.45

The three-time group 1 runner-up won from the same draw in his heat. She stepped fairly before mustering quickly and assuming the lead and despite Magic Muffin's best efforts, proved too strong and in fact increased her margin nearing the line. Obviously the final is deeper making the start all the more crucial and the draw all the more awkward. She has recorded several low-5 second splits and if she can repeat that she's right in the mix.

Can she win? Yes, especially if she nails the start.

Baby baked ‘em

BABY JAYCEE edges out young gun MAGIC MUFFIN in the second heat of the Group 1 @sportsbetcomau #SapphireCrown at @sandowndogs.

Will the three-time Group 1 runner-up break her hoodoo in next week's final?#GreyhoundRacing #PremierRacing pic.twitter.com/UhcjkiEU0c

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) May 11, 2023

7. Wow She's Fast, $3.50

Trainer: Jackie Greenough

Heat: 29.30

The sport's greatest prize money earner and defending champion. Showed in her heat – just her second start in three months – that she is still the greyhound to beat, finding the line strongly in a best of night 29.30. She ran the second fastest time ever recorded at the track when winning this final 12 months ago, and while she is now a year older, she will be better for the run and is still the greyhound to beat.

Can she win? Yes, she's won over $2.3m for a reason – she's a champion.

8. Lakeview Buff, $71

Trainer: Monique Whelan

Heat: 29.69 (third to Baby Jaycee)

A huge effort to qualifier for the group 1 final given she was running in a 250+ rank race the week before the heats. Ran 29.47 in that race but that is her only win in six starts at the track. Is drawn poorly.

Can she win? No, not without a whole lot of luck.

Tips: 1-7-6-4