Cobra Clutch looks the one to beat in Saturday night’s Group 2 Cannington Exhibition and Showgrounds All Stars Sprint (520m).
The Jamie Marsh-trained greyhound jumps from box two in the high quality $40,000-to-the-winner decider (race five), which is one of WA’s biggest races of the year.
Cobra Clutch faces a formidable field featuring some of WA’s best sprinters but has drawn his favourite box, from which he has won all of his four previous starts.
The well bred son of Turanza Bale and Mini Emily, who has earned almost $100,000 in a strong racing career, has mixed form recently but was back to his best with a smart 30.00 victory from box six in last week’s heats.
“I was delighted with that,” Marsh said. “He was in arguably the toughest of the heats last week, so to come through was great.
“He’s been getting unsuitable box draws recently which I think explains his results. Box draws are obviously all-important when you face this class of greyhounds and he’s got the one he wanted for this race.
“He can be hit-and-miss at box rise but he can get to the rail early and if he does, he could be to chase down.”
Cobra Clutch has been a good performer since debuting in July last year, having notched up 16 wins and 10 minor placings from 40 starts, including wins in this year’s WA Bred Championship and placing in last year’s Group 3 Young Stars Classic.
The All Stars Sprint is a terrific final, with virtually all the field having claims.
Fun Boss (box three) was a smart 30.03 winner in last week’s heats and with 30 wins to his name has arguably been WA’s most consistent greyhound over the last 18 months.
Last year’s Group 2 Dapto Auction Series and the 2016 Group 2 Queensland Derby winner France Soir (box four), from the gun Paul Stuart kennel, finished third in last week’s heats and has had two previous unsuccessful runs wearing the blue rug, but has the class to go close on Saturday night.
Teddy Monelli (box six) has won nine of his 12 starts so far for the hot David Hobby kennel, while Ramifications (box seven) is a super talent who won his heat last week and ran a sizzling 29.88 at Cannington earlier this year.
“Paul Stuart is a master of preparing his greyhounds perfectly for these races, so you cannot rule France Soir out,” Marsh said.
“Phaser Bale in box one and Fun Boss in three are reasonable beginners so I’m hoping he doesn’t get squeezed out, but he’s a much better chance from this draw than out wide.
“I can’t say he’ll definitely win, but he’s got every chance.”
Phaser Bale (box one), Pepper Fire (box five) and Weblec Belle in box eight complete the field.
In other Cannington Saturday action, Velucci (box one) looks the night’s best bet in the 5th grade Saturday Night Fever Stakes (race one, 600m).
Velucci has won three of his last five starts and won from box one at Cannnington four starts back.
Cosmic Malteze (box one) has won all of his four previous starts from box one and looks ideally positioned to win the 5th grade Make Smoking History Canning Show Stakes (race 7, 520m).
Kobi Rocks (box two) has won his last won starts and looks capable of securing the hat-trick in the Novice Canning Show Nov 4 & 5 event (race 11, 380m).
The Kody Charles-trained greyhound triumphed over the 297m at Northam earlier this week in a smart 17.46 and looks the best of these.
For Cannington Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
