BRILLIANT staying greyhound Bobby Boucheau will start favourite in tonight’s 49th running of the Sandown Cup.
Bobby Boucheau, who will jump from box two and is prepared by Angela Jackson, scored an outstanding all-the-way heat win in a stunning 41.67 seconds – just .03 seconds outside the track record.
The race has stakemoney of $143,000 – $100,000 which goes to the winner.
Recent Group 2 Easter Chase winner Echelon won his heat in a slick time, while Pillow Torque, will start from box three – splitting Bobby Boucheau and Echelon.
In the third and final heat last Thursday, Shimaguni’s remarkable rise through the staying ranks continued, winning in 42 seconds.
At 25 months of age, Shimaguni is the youngest and least experienced finalist, with just 13 starts. Shimaguni will start from box five.
The other finalists are So Seductive (box one), Blues Judd (six), Slick Lee (seven) and Bramley (eight). Blue Lorian and Black Viking are the reserves.
The finalists include five Group race winners, who have returned a combined $750,000 in prizemoney and 108 wins.