Best stayers vie for riches

By Michael Floyd
THE best greyhounds in the country will contest the heats of Australia’s richest staying race, the $143,000 Group 1 Sandown Cup, tonight.
The 24 greyhounds contesting the heats include nine Group race winners who have won a combined $1.8 million in prize-money.
Last start Group 2 Henry Harrison Memorial winner Pillow Torque – the track record holder – has drawn box four in the second heat, and is likely to start a pre-post favourite for the series.
But she will have to be at the top of her game, having drawn against exciting youngster Echelon, 10-time Group finalist Satanic Cash, and former top-liner Forty Twenty, who returned from a three-month lay-off with three consecutive wins.
Six-time Group race winner Blue Lorian headlines the opening heat, but will need luck to overcome box eight against Group 1 Super Stayers winner Bobby Boucheau and the underrated Bramley.
In the third heat, Group 1 Bold Trease Carnival Cup winner So Seductive returns from a brief let-up against the exciting Shimaguni, a winner of three metropolitan ‘half mile’ runs and boasting a 41.77 second best time at the Lightwood Road circuit.
Four heats of the $72,500 Group 3 Dawson complete an outstanding night of greyhound racing, featuring Golden Easter Egg winner Radley Bale, dual Group 1 winner Kilty Lad, multiple country cups winner Enry Walt, and last start Group 2 Warrnambool Cup winner Arsonist.
The finals of the Sandown Cup and Dawson will be run on Thursday 26 May at Sandown Park.
Entry to the final is free and there will be plenty of entertainment and give-aways, including a $2500 Flight Centre voucher and $1000 in free bets.
Richmond footballer Jack Riewoldt and the Melbourne Victory soccer player Archie Thompson will attend the final.