Why Wow She's Fast Can Launch In Sapphire

TRAINER Kel Greenough concedes Wow She's Fast will need to call upon all of her champion qualities to win Thursday night's Group 1 Sapphire Crown (515m) at Sandown Park.

The superstar daughter of My Bro Fabio has drawn box five for the $100,000-to-the-winner bitches feature after securing her heat in come from behind fashion last Friday in a smart 29.19.

FIELDS AND FORM SANDOWN PARK THURSDAY NIGHT

The grand heat performance was her first hit-out since finishing a puzzling last in her Million Dollar Chase semi-final at Wentworth Park just a fortnight earlier.

"It was a complete head-scratcher what happened in Sydney; it just wasn't her at all," Greenough offered.

? FIRST THREE HEAT WINNERS ?

? #SapphireCrown
? #PremierRacing at @sandowndogs

? WOW SHE'S FAST (2)
⏱ 29.189 seconds

? IDOLIZE (1)
⏱ 29.384 seconds

? DEVEL SIXTEEN (7)
⏱ 29.458 seconds#GreyhoundRacing @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/g3qIMPWeRX

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) May 14, 2022

"When you've seen her race and trial the way she does from when she was a baby to then come out and put in a run like that makes your mind wonder but you need to move on pretty quickly.

"The Thursday after the Sydney run she trialled the record in a post-to-post at The Meadows running 24.42 which is just unheard of. I drove home from Sydney thinking she must be broken down but after a couple of days she was back to her old self.

"What's happened up there we'll probably never know. As well as having the ability her best two traits is her guts and the fact she never gives up."

At Sandown Park last Friday night, Wow She's Fast returned to her trademark brilliant best with a dominant heat victory following a moderate beginning.

But to annex Thursday night's Sapphire – and land Greenough a second win in the race following the deeds of Cindeen Shelby back in 2009 – Wow She's Fast will need to overcome another tricky finals draw.

"She drew the four to win The Phoenix and the seven to win the Launching Pad so she hasn't had any big races handed to her," Greenough said.

"You can never write her off, she's a freakish talent that would chase through a brick wall. She's got that size advantage as well.

"The job looked ahead in the Launching Pad from seven but she found a way."

A $2.60 favourite with TAB Fixed Odds, Wow She's Fast faces an all-star cast of bitches including kennelmate Leviathan which set the pace in the heats with a dazzling 29.06 heat performance.

SLOW START…FAST FOR THE REST

Despite "heart flutters early", WOW SHE'S FAST (2) won the first heat of the Group 1 #SapphireCrown (515m) at @sandowndogs in 29.189 seconds for trainer Jackie Greenough.

Result ? https://t.co/4BTrOkiwM2#GreyhoundRacing #PremierRacing @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/pzMRkiv3Ys

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) May 13, 2022

Winner of six races, all at Sandown Park, Leviathan is a daughter of Fernando Bale and former star bitch turned producer Elevated which was first across the line in the 2018 Sapphire before losing the race due to a swab irregularity.

"She's going to need a lot of luck from out in box seven," Greenough conceded.

"With all the speed drawn down near the fence from 1-4 you can't help but think she might get posted out wide. And if she does she doesn't have the size and ability to come from behind like Wow She's Fast.

"But she's feeling sensational, has come through the heat great and her record at Sandown is outstanding.

"Had she drawn down near the fence I'd be much more confident with her."

Wedged in between Greenough's duo in betting is Peter Presutto's star bitch Idolize which is shooting for yet another big race victory.

Winner of the Group 2 Laurels at Sandown Park in December, the daughter of My Redeemer won the Group 1 National Futurity at Wentworth Park in January before finishing a courageous second to Aston Rupee in the Group 1 Temlee at The Meadows in February.

Idolize led from go to whoa in 29.38 to annex her heat and has drawn favourably in box two for her quest at another group 1 milestone.