Single Sticka looks to hold the edge in what looks a mouth-watering Group 1 Sky Racing Perth Cup (race seven, 520m) at Cannington on Saturday night.
The John Carmody-trained greyhound jumps from box three in the $150,000-to-the-winner final, which is the highlight of a cracking night’s racing at the Perth track.
Fastest qualifier Single Sticka was a dazzling 29.59 winner in last week’s heats from box six, with a run just 0.03 outside the track record.
Single Sticka has won two of his three previous starts from box three and, with only outsiders Equanimity and Kid Kansas inside of him, looks capable of leading early.
Single’s Sticka’s biggest danger comes in the form of newcomer Astrozone (box four), who has won 12 of his first 13 starts for gun WA trainer Paul Stuart.
Astrozone, a Cannington track record holder, has been working his way through the grades nicely and scored a sizzling 29.79 win in last week’s heats.
Other runners include Pepper Fire (box five) who is a two-time Group winner and ran 29.80 last week, but has not won in five previous starts wearing the yellow rug.
Best value chance in the decider looks like Sassy Ginger (box seven), who ran a strong 29.91 from box three in last week’s heats.
The Enzo Crudeli-trained greyhound has gone unplaced in two previous starts from this box but has been racing strongly in Victoria and SA recently.
Equanimity (box one), Kid Kansas (box two) and Times Square (box eight) complete the field.
The night also features two other Group races – the Group 1 Sky Racing Galaxy Cup (race five, 715m) and the Group 3 Perth Cup Consolation (race three, 520m).
Trip To Eden (box four) finished second in his heat last week behind Woodvale Flyer but looks capable of winning the $100,000 top prize in the Galaxy.
The Jason Thompson-trained greyhound was only one-and-a-half lengths behind heat winner Topology last week at his first look at Cannington and should be much stronger for the decider.
Monaro Monelli (box four) finished an unlucky runner-up in his Perth Cup heat last week but has been in consistent recent form and can win the Perth Cup Consolation.
One of the stars of leading WA trainer David Hobby's kennel, Monaro Monelli has scored four wins and four minor placings in his last 10 starts and won from this box in late December in a smart 30.15.
In other Cannington Saturday action, Jaimandy Hatty (box three) and Shift Pattern (box two) look two of the night’s best bets in races eight and 12 respectively.
Top Victorian Jaimandy Hatton was unlucky to miss out on a place in the Galaxy and has been one of the top stayers in her home state over the last 18 months.
Newcomer Shift Pattern, another from the gun Paul Stuart kennel and an impeccably bred son of Turanza Bale ands Miata, was a smart 21.82 winner over the 380m two weeks ago and can win again over the same distance.
For Cannington Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
