Sonador to defend Cup

TOORADIN-trained greyhound Sonador will defend her Cranbourne Cup title next week after a thrilling heat win on Monday night.
Amy Ralph’s four-year-old brindle bitch outlasted Cranbourne trainer Darren McDonald’s dog Vintage Octane to book her place in front of around 400 racegoers.
Next Monday’s $30,000-to-the-winner final will mark Sonador’s third straight appearance in the feature after also coming third in 2007.
Cranbourne Greyhound Racing Club chief executive Tony Wright expects Sonador to start favourite after posting the quickest heat time of 29.94 seconds. The other four heat winners were Kendale Bale, Yikes, Premier Moment and Beware.
Jason Thompson-trained Yikes produced a new second sectional record of 20.98 in his brilliant race five victory. Vintage Octane, Turanza Bale and Stoner Bale also booked spots in the final as the three fastest second-place finishers.
Alpine Way and Bora Bale are the two reserves after placing second in races seven and eight respectively. Trainers Graeme Bate and Kylie Hunt have two finalists each, with the former set to increase that number to three if Bora Bale gains a run.
Wright was thrilled with the crowd and admitted to having goosebumps as he watched Sonador reel in her competitors on Monday night.
“The top trainers in the state were there and duly took out the honours. All the finalists were trained by professionals,” he said. “I’m not a bookmaker, but I think Sonador will be right in it. She’s drawn box two, which should suit her. She’ll drop in behind the leaders, as she did last night and last year, and she ran the fastest time of the night, so why wouldn’t she be favourite again?”
The first of next Monday’s 12 races is at 7pm, with the Cranbourne Cup final held at 9.30pm.- Marc McGowan