Temlee Snub Spurs Hector's Cup Statement

BITTERSWEET was how Lisa Cockerell described Hector Fawley's breathtaking performance in the Group 1 Sportsbet Australian Cup heats last Saturday night.

Sweet, because Hector Fawley, acknowledged as the best middle-distance greyhound in the land, placed himself in rarefied sprinting air with an electrifying 29.54sec heat victory.

Bitter, because he was denied the chance to do it in the G1 Temlee invitational.

FIELDS AND FORM THE MEADOWS SATURDAY NIGHT

The Cockerell family's homegrown son of Bernardo and Rolanda Hooch set blistering Best Of Night figures for the star-studded meeting, stamping himself a serious Australian Cup contender.

Somewhat frustratingly for Ian and Lisa Cockerell, he bettered Explicit's 29.63sec triumph in the Temlee, for which Hector Fawley was second reserve.

It was very much a case of actions speaking louder than words.

"Obviously, we were going for the Rookie Rebel, but when he didn't get picked in the Temlee it was a bit of a surprise to us," Lisa Cockerell admitted.

"We thought he would have been in the Temlee, so to see him go so well in his Cup heat was kind of bittersweet.

"He wasn't even in the top ten for the Temlee. He was only made second reserve because there was a scratching.

"I put it this way; he's not everybody's choice, but I'm very glad he's on our team!

"But the Temlee has been and gone, so we're just looking forward to Saturday night now."

Last Saturday's blistering PB, erasing his 29.70sec BON effort recorded only one week earlier, boosted Hector Fawley's imposing Meadows' record, highlighted by victory in the G1 Hume Cup (600m) and third in The Phoenix (525m).

Hector Fawley will renew acquaintances with The Phoenix hero Schillaci in Saturday night's fourth Australian Cup semi-final, where he will have to overcome box five for the second week running.

Hector Fawley is joint $3.10 favourite with last Saturday night's second quickest heat winner Cain Bale (box 4), with Schillaci (box 1) next in betting at $4.40.

"I was really surprised to get box five again!" Lisa quipped, tongue in cheek.

"He's just got to get around the first turn and get an honest go at them.

"Win, lose or draw, we know he's going to give 100 per cent.

"The Rookie Rebel was our main aim, but he's just so versatile and with him sprinting so well, making an Australian Cup Final would look very nice on his resume!"

If Hector Fawley doesn't finish in the top two in his semi, he will surely be the first greyhound chosen for the 600m Rookie Rebel, which has this year been moved to the final night of the Cup Carnival.

Hector Fawley is on the third line of All In Australian Cup betting at $8, while he's $4.50 favourite for the Rookie Rebel.

Dubbo's rich Country Classic (605m) is "quite possibly" on the agenda for Hector Fawley post the Australian Cup Carnival, however the Cockerells' focus is understandably much closer to home.

"To be honest, we haven't really looked past the Rookie Rebel," Lisa said.

"We're channelling all our energy into that!"