Australian Cup Beckons For Birthday Cup Favourite

BOOM youngster Crumble Monelli, out to give owner-trainer Dave Hobby a feature race double within a week, goes into Friday night's Group 2 Birthday Cup final (405m) at Mandurah on a possible mission to the Group 1 Australian Cup.

Crumble Monelli (Barcia Bale-Flake Monelli) ran 22.31 the quickest of the heats of the Birthday Cup when scoring by almost five lengths last Friday to take his record to 11 starts for eight wins.

He has, however, come up with box four in the final.

“He's a very, very quick dog,” said Hobby today.

“He's not a great beginner but when he hits the ground he goes.

“But, he needs three or four strides to accelerate.”

Crumble Monelli is royally bred by Barcia Bale from the Fernando Bale-Dyna Sandy bitch Flake Monelli the winner of 30 races for Hobby and $200,000 in stakes, a bitch who was Group 1 class during her race career.

Hobby's family named all Flake Monelli's litter after chocolates … Flake, Chomp, Crunchie, Freddo, Picnic, Rolo, Snickers and Twix.

Tonight's Birthday Cup heat winners:
Heat 1: Launch Control 22.78
Heat 2: Crumble Monelli 22.31
Heat 3: Naval Guard 23.01
Heat 4: Fabriola Ali 22.93
Heat 5: Gangnam Monelli 22.65
Heat 6: Fire Cloud 22.60https://t.co/qt3HF27ByQ

— Greyhounds WA (@greyhounds_wa) January 6, 2023

Crumble Monelli's litter is all named after sweets … Churro, Custard, Jelly, Pancake, Pudding, Tiramisu and Waffles.

Hobby is comparing Crumble Monelli to his former star sprinter Sunset Spitfire.

“He is close to him,” said Dave.

“The first time I trialled him over 400 metres, I thought this is a potential Victorian Cups dog.

“But, the litter is more 400 metres and touching 500 metres.

“That's why I switched them all back to 400 metres to ease them through their early races.

“After this final, I will take Crumble Monelli back to Cannington for more 500 metre racing.

“Then, if he keeps improving, we ‘MAY', and it is ‘MAY' at the moment take him to Melbourne for the Australian Cup.”

Hobby won the 600m Listed Summer Chase with Adzuki Monelli at Cannington last Saturday night.

G2 Birthday Cup Final (405m): 1 Fabriola Ali, 2 Launch Control, 3 West On Cider, 4 Crumble Monelli, 5 Fire Cloud, 6 Naval Guard, 7 Gangnam Monelli, 8 Panama Pepper. Res: 9 Kip Keeping, 10 Bundegi.

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AMPLIFIED, Mambo Monelli and Vice Grip are the 2022 WA Greyhound of the Year finalists.

Amplified raced 35 times in 2022 for 21 wins and eight placings, for $161,040 in stakes.

In addition to winning the G3 Paradise Street Trophy and The Anniversary Cup for trainer Krystal Shinners, Amplified also second in the G3 Mandurah Cup and Spring Gift.

Proving her versatility, Amplified won races over distances ranging from 380m to 600m and equalled the 490m track record in Mandurah in July.

Mambo Monelli raced eight times in 2022, winning six and was twice placed for $154,215 in stakes.

In addition to winning both the Sandi's Me Mum Memorial and the G1 Galaxy with trainer Steve Withers, Mambo Monelli also set a 600m track record at Cannington.

Vice Grip, trained by Adam Smithson, raced 26 times in the year for 13 wins and 10 placings, winning $380,440 in stakes.

Vice Grip won the Group 1 Perth Cup, Lew Dorsa Memorial, the Spring Gift, the G3 Mandurah Cup and G2 All Stars.

Vice Grip was third in the G1 Topgun and a finalist in the G1 Melbourne Cup and 1 Hobart 1000.

The winner will be announced at the awards night  on January 29 at Crown Perth.