David Braithwaite
LOCALLY-OWNED greyhound Catch The Thief is favourite for Saturday night’s group two Shepparton Cup final.
Catch The Thief, now racing out of the Pearcedale kennels of top trainer Jason Thompson, having been under Briagolong-based Matt Clark, returned from a two-month spell after the Warragul Cup to win his heat on Monday night.
Catch The Thief drew box two for the final (race eight, 8.59pm), for which the winner will receive $47,000.
The dog competed in three group one finals in the past 12 months, including runner-up in the Adelaide Cup, as well as won the group two WA Derby and group three Warragul St Leger.
HA Ha Magoo, trained by Des Douch at Maffra, won a 460m heat of the Warragul to Sandown series at Warragul on Tuesday night.
Joining Ha Ha Magoo in the final at Sandown Park this Thursday night will be All Mayhem, trained by John Boreland at Giffard West, and Willem Powerfish, trained by Robert Cook at Munro, who finished second in their respective heats.
Earn The Loot, trained by Lyn Smith at Nambrok, held on to win a 400m grade seven by half a length from a fast-finishing Unwind.
SWIFT By Design came from behind to win a 525m mixed grade four and five at The Meadows on Wednesday for Rosedale trainer Carolyn Jones.
Swift By Design drifted to the back of the field early, but maintained an inside line which served him well, making up ground on the two leaders and passing them late to win by a length.
DR Lynch won the 311m grade five final by a head at Cranbourne on Wednesday night for Ronald Winter at Denison.
On Monday afternoon at the same track, Juliette Keats won a 311m maiden for Tyllah Cornell at Giffard West, just ahead of Jackie Speedy, trained by Steve Spoljaric at Kilmany.
THE first of 12 races on Sunday night will leave the boxes at 5.44pm. The feature will be race four, the GRV Vic Bred 440m maiden final at 6.43pm, with the winner receiving $7750.
