Sonic Oak the home hero but Wow a favourite for Goulburn Cup

This is the club's premier event and, along with the Workers Club Fireball Final, it promises to be an unforgettable afternoon of racing with history waiting to be made.

The cup will see last year's winner, Wow, endeavour to win consecutive cups and become only the third dog to achieve this when he goes out an odds-on favourite.

One of the best sprinters in the country, Wow has created a real following due to his race name. He has already won the Group 2 Gosford Cup, Group 1 Paws Of Thunder at Wentworth Park and the Group 1 Temlee, beating the best at The Meadows in Melbourne before running a close second in the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg.

This success followed his win in last year's Goulburn Cup, which was his fifth from six at the track, where he looks almost unbeatable.

Earlier this year, he broke the 440m track record, running 24.18 and has since won in 24.19 and then 24.24 in last Sunday's cup heat earning his the fastest three times run at the track over the 440m trip.

Trained at Cannyonleigh by Danielle Matic, the young trainer hopes his dog can continue this hot streak.

"He is so popular and he has so much attention on him you just hopes everything goes right," Matic said.

As any Group race is competition is fierce and the field is a hot line-up with Greta trained Casual Glance drawn perfectly in box eight a real chance to give Wow a race.

Prepared by Michelle Lill, the dog was in the Fireball final this time last year and now has another chance back at Goulburn this time at a bigger level.

Casual Glance ran third to Wow in the Gosford Cup in January and has been in several group finals.

Goulburn's hometown hope will come with Sonic Oak who ran second in the heat to another local in Trouble At Mill.

Sonic Oak is trained by Andrew Rowe who, after 34 years of training, has his third home-cup runner. He had Dilmish in 2010 then Mirobolt in 2012 without success and hopes his fortune will turn around this year.

"I have a great family who are all part of my success, my wife Debbie does so much work when I'm away at other meetings and my daughter, Karly who will handle the dog on Sunday," Andrew said.

Only a young chaser, Sonic Oak has raced just 12 times for six wins and it was a big ask to step up to this level with little experience, but he has backed her trainer's thoughts.

Gunning trainer's Andy and Jodie Lord once again have a chance to win the cup with Mr Ticket and Ritza Donald both runner-up in their respective heats while they also own Derry Express who is now trained in Victoria by Anthony Azzopardi.

Derry Express exploded away mid-race in a highly impressive heat win and gets his chance this year after being first reserve for the race last year.

The other major race on Sunday is the Goulburn Workers Club final over 350m and a blistering performance by More Sauce in the heats last Sunday saw him break the track record running 19.33 taking two hundredths off the previous time standard.

More Sauce is also trained by Michelle Lill who could be looking to be the first trainer to win both the Fireball and Cup in the same year.

More Sauce came off a second in a Group 2 at Newcastle the previous week and is unbeaten in all three starts at Goulburn. He is a speed machine and was set for this race 12 months ago.

While Anthony Azzopardi also has a chance of winning both races as he has Panel engaged in the Fireball.

The first race on Sunday is at 3pm and all fully-vaccinated people are welcome to attend the cup meeting.

1. Mr Ticket - Chased home Wow in heat and has proven himself against some very good dogs. The one box is a huge plus in a race that will be run at a frantic pace. Will get a good run in transit but place at best.

2. Trouble At Mill - Very strong who is in his second group race. Scored his sixth local win in the heat in 24.68s and is jumping much cleaner these days and that is putting him in the race early. Powerful finisher and will be stalking the leaders coming to the home turn.

3. Ritza Donald - Second of the Lord runners and after failing in last year's cup heats gets in this year. Was well beaten by Derry Express in heat and has only won twice in 13 starts at the track. Would need to produce something special to win.

4. Wow - One of the best sprinters in the country and this is his domain. Beaten only once at Goulburn and has already won the 2020 Cup and holds the track record. Puts his rivals away early and runs near record sections. He is simply poetry in motion. Deserving favourite.

5. Derry Express - Classy Victorian-trained sprinter who was a reserve for last year's race and now gets his chance. Used his eight box in a powerful heat win by seven lengths in second-fastest 24.49 with a strong run home time which was close to Wow's. Box no help but a win would not surprise.

6. Cumbria Dreaming - Ultra-consistent sprinter who deserves a crack at the top level today. Runner-up to Casual Glance in heat and has already collected $50,000 in prizemoney with a great record. Tough here but no surprise if he earns a cheque.

7. Sonic Oak - Baby of the field and faces a huge task against some of the best. Only a dozen career starts coming into this after running second to Trouble At Mill in heat after finding the lead at the top of the straight. All his racing has been at Goulburn and will have all of the Merino Town behind him.

8. Casual Glance - Been at the group level all year and is already group-placed. Brilliant early speed in dominant heat win in fast 24.55s. The eight box brings him right into contention. Major player.

9. Winlock On Top - Has beaten Wow at Nowra and been a fabulous chaser. Place at best if starts.

10. Mr Dusty Sir - Was 100/1 in his third in heat. A huge shock to be in the race and would be the same odds again.

SELECTIONS ; 1. Wow. 2. Casual Glance. 3. Trouble At Mill. 4. Derry Express

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