Tips, Preview For Sandown Park On Thursday Night

SANDOWN'S Autumn Carnival kicks off on Thursday night with two outstanding group 1 series – the Sapphire Crown and the Harrison-Dawson.

The Sapphire Crown has been conducted under various guises since it was first run in 1974 however since becoming a bitches only event in 2002, it has become one of the club's premier feature races having been won by some of the sport's greatest female sprinters including Bogie Leigh, Paua To Burn, Betty's Angel, Cindeen Shelby, Xylia Allen, Black Opium and Wow She's Fast. 

Lakeview Emily heads the All-In market after drawing ideally in box one in her heat and will be well supported as she seeks a well deserved group 1 title.

The companion series for the male sprinters, the Harrison-Dawson, honours the memory and contributions of former chairmen Henry Harrison and Geoff Dawson, as well as Henry's daughter (and Geoff's wife), Loretta Dawson. 

FIELDS AND FORM SANDOWN PARK ON THURSDAY NIGHT

First run as an amalgam of the Henry Harrison Memorial and the Dawson in 2012, its honour roll is befitting a race of this stature with Fernando Bale, My Redeemer and Simon Told Helen just some of the names to have claimed the $100,000 winner's cheque.

The 2025 renewal will see another worthy name added to the honour roll in what is one of the most even and highest quality group 1 series of the year. 

One bookmaker has five greyhounds favourite at $9 for the series which features group 1 winners Deadly Avenger, Morton, Flying Zulu, Tim Zoo and Schillaci among the contenders.

Each series is open to the best 32 greyhounds nominated, with the first two from each heat progressing to the finals on Thursday week.

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RACE 2: Sapphire Crown heat 1

Fascinating opening heat with a lot depending on any scratchings given HERE COMES JOJO (9) – one of the favourites for the series – has been drawn as a reserve. Despite her slashing 29.24 win at this track last time out, her relative low rating means her chances are dependent on a scratching. If she gets a start she's the one to beat, but if she doesn't, look to NATALIE BALE (2) to make the early running with Launching Pad runner-up DOONGALLA JESSIE (8) to make the middle runners' lives difficult. 

Selection: HERE COMES JOJO (9) if she gets a start, NATALIE BALE each way if she doesn't.

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RACE 3: Sapphire Crown heat 2

ASTON GOZO (1) has been racing in great form, has the gun draw and an excellent record at the track but will need to nail the start or risk being pinned on the rail given the speed in the middle of the field. SHARNI'S SECRET (4) ran 4.99 early in her last start win and BEBOP JAZZ (5) ran 4.98 when winning in 29.11 in January. GOLD SCOTCH (6) is group 1 placed over 600m and may get the early cart across. 

Selection: BEBOP JAZZ (5) but be wary a short quote, GOLD SCOTCH (6) each way through the exotics. 

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RACE 4: Sapphire Crown heat 3

GAMBELLA (7) is a genuine machine that simply cannot draw a box. Her 29.04 win here in March is more than enough to win this but the draw is a shocker. REALITY BEST (4) has an excellent record at the track and a recent group 1 finalist but does need things her way. They're the best two in it, but big question marks around their draws.

Selection: GAMBELLA (7) should win on pure ability, but happy to sit this one out.

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RACE 5: Sapphire Crown heat 4

The two series favourites meet in clearly the best of the four heats. LAKEVIEW EMILY (1) has been racing in superlative form since breaking through at group level in February's Shepparton Cup, going on to run third in the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg before runner an excellent second in The Sandgroper. She's a 10-time winner at the track with a 28.84 best from the draw, and six from nine in the red. Clearly the one to beat here and a deserved favourite for the series. DASHING SLAY (4) couldn't have impressed more when undefeated through the Launching Pad series and comes into this series fresh. She'll need to step from the draw, and if she does, her mid-race pace is unmatched and will pressure the favourite the whole way. 

Selection: Back LAKEVIEW EMILY to win the series.

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RACE 6: Harrison-Dawson heat 1

Most attention will be on dual group 1 winner EXCAVATION (7). The Adelaide Cup and Topgun winner hasn't raced since running last in the Australian Cup and was scratched out of the Warrnambool Cup heats to be ready for this. Has handled wide draws in the past – he won the Adelaide Cup and ran third in the Temlee from box 8 – but needs to nail it to win here. SCHILLACI (2) is a star at his best and has a favourable draw, PAW OSWALD (4) was brilliant winning in 29.12 last time out, and WYONG DALLAS (6) won five on the spin before finding trouble in the Launching Pad final. 

Selection: A really open race, PAW OSWALD (4) should get clear running and will be hard to beat if he does.

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RACE 7: Harrison-Dawson heat 2

MORTON (1) is drawn to win and if he's anywhere near his best he is the one to beat. FIELD DAY (3) is talented but has only won four of 14 starts in town, none of which have been higher than mixed grade. VINCENT BALE (7) rarely runs a bad race and seems to be in a group final every other week. The draw is tricky but has the talent to overcome it. 

Selection: MORTON (1) should win from the draw but there's not much value there. 

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RACE 8: Harrison-Dawson heat 3

Perhaps the best race of this series. PAW VORTEX (1) is undefeated from the draw and has the speed to lead and if he does, can go faster than his 29.21 best at the track. DEADLY AVENGER (4) has been a brilliant winner of his last four including the Group 1 Perth Cup and The Sandgroper, and there's no reason to think he can't make it five in a row here. TIM ZOO (5) is a star but is risky at box rise, BAGMAN (7) has a good record at the track and broke 29 seconds two starts back, but the draw is suboptimal. 

Selection: DEADLY AVENGER (4) is racing as well as any in the country and keeps getting around at a backable price. No reason to get off now. 

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RACE 9: Harrison-Dawson heat 4

FLYING ZULU (7) has been inconsistent at box rise of late and has a lot of crooked numbers in his form line, but he should get clear running from this draw and if he steps he wins. COLAC KID (1) has been racing well and is drawn perfectly but may not have the overall speed of some others. MOTION SENSOR (2) is racing well, and MEPUNGA REWARD (8) will be powering home late.

Selection: FLYING ZULU (7) on trust, MEPUNGA REWARD (8) each way at the price.

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Quaddie: 14 / 2467 / 137 / 14 = $48 for 100%

Sapphire Crown ALL IN: LAKEVIEW EMILY is flying. She should just win her heat and assuming she does, will be shorter in the final than the $3.50 on offer ALL-IN. GOLD SCOTCH brings an intriguing form line to the series, has drawn perhaps the most open heat, and will be finishing strong. At $51 is worth a throw at the stumps if you're looking at something below the fold in the ALL-IN market.

Harrison-Dawson ALL IN: DEADLY AVENGER is racing as well as any in the country and his chances won't hinge on a favourable draw. WYONG DALLAS has enormous upside and at around the $34 quote is great value. If he can progress from his heat after drawing box 6, expect improvement in the final and with a favourable draw can come right into calculations.