Popular sprinter McCooly’s Lad will make his highly anticipated return to city racing this Thursday at Sandown Park.
It will be his first race at the track since 2020 TAB Melbourne Cup night when luckless in the Super VicGreys final.
“I’m very excited, it’s been a long time coming. I think we’re all keen to see what he can do,” said trainer Anthony Azzopardi.
It will be just his third start this year after injury has kept him out for much of 2020 – click here for more on his return. Since resuming he’s won both of his starts at Horsham.
“I’m a pretty positive person but part of me thought he wasn’t going to get back to this stage, but I stayed positive and here we are.”
‘Ralph’ has had ‘box-to-box’ trials at Sandown Park the past two Wednesdays. At his first visit he set 5.27 and 19.19 then most recently 5.16 and 18.98.
“In his second trial he broke 19 seconds to the back split which I was really happy with, he’s starting to hit the mark. He’s going to relish the competition that comes in a race.”
He’ll jump from box 3 in race 9 at 5.45pm.
“There’s speed from Dash Of Reyne in box 4 but not heaps from the two underneath him. If he can lead I expect he’ll win.”
His return to Sandown Park is the start of a plan that leads him to the TAB Melbourne Cup. He was barging through the ranks heading into last year’s series but is undoubtedly better placed this time around.
“The Melbourne Cup is what we’re aiming for. He was a bit young last year but he’s at the perfect age now. I’ve got a plan of how we’ll get there, let’s hope there’s no hiccups along the way.”
Earlier on Thursday’s card is a rare Free-For-All over 715m – just the second in 21 years! It features in-form stayers Mepunga Ruby and Gypsy Wyong plus seasoned campaigner and track record holder Here’s Tears.
We’re also treated to a Free-For-All for the sprinters headlined by stars Lakeview Walter, Jax Bale and Fernando Mick.
Click here for Thursday’s fields
This year’s TAB Melbourne Cup will see $500,000 go to-the-winner for the first time. The carnival kicks off with the ’50 Day Countdown’ special event on Thursday October 7 – the winner will be exempt into Cup heats. Click here for more information
After the last race at Sandown Park on Sunday track record holder Aston Rupee had his final hit out before heading to Adelaide on Thursday for the match racing challenge.
He set a frightening 22.60 (12.51, 10.09) in a handslip trial which spells danger for his opponent. He meets South Australian sprinter Rushes in the final match of the night – click here for match ups. The fastest greyhound of the series will gain a start in the G1 Adelaide Cup final.
