Hector Fawley Secures Sandgroper Slot

POWERHOUSE Victorian Hector Fawley will race for Ladbrokes in the $600,000 The Sandgroper (520m) at Cannington next month.

The $300,000-to-the-winner showpiece is slated for Thursday, April 18 and will serve to kickstart the second Western Trilogy – the world's only tri-code slot race series – staged across three frenetic days of racing.

Hector Fawley's place in The Sandgroper is set to add another dimension to the race given the son of Bernardo's trademark booming finishes and remarkable will to win.

In 52 career starts, the Lisa and Ian Cockerell-trained Hector Fawley has tasted victory on 20 occasions, boasting stake earnings of $411,525.

His crowning glory came with victory in the Group 1 Hume Cup (600m) at The Meadows last November.

That performance secured connections a place in the $1.65m The Phoenix (525m) a month later where he finished third to all-the-way winner Schillaci which, in a touch of irony, represented Ladbrokes.

"It's a privilege. We're super excited and hopefully we can win a Sandgroper," Ian Cockerell said. 

Hector Fawley stamps his status as the best middle distance chaser in the land taking out a cracking edition of the G1 Hume Cup!

Well done Team Cockerell ???????? pic.twitter.com/FACzHE2jt1

— Melbourne Greyhounds – The Meadows (@MelbourneGreys) November 11, 2023

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"We'll hopefully get over there (to Perth) a couple of weeks prior and get a few trials in and see the condition of their track and the way it all works over there. 

"He's a quirky fella…but on the track he's a machine. What he's done for us, the times, the way he chases, he's just got everything you want in a dog. 

"People recognise him as a middle-distance dog, but we beg to differ on that, and we've seen that several times now over the 500."

Ladbrokes Racing Club GM Ryan Stanaway added that he was hopeful Hector Fawley could build on a recent run of slot race success following Schillaci's The Phoenix heroics in December. 

"Ladbrokes Racing Club is really building momentum across the three codes, and it was a great thrill for all of our members, particularly those on course, when Schillaci landed The Phoenix," Stanaway said. 

"Hector Fawley is a proven commodity and speaking with Ian and Lisa, they are confident he can head to Perth and be super competitive." 

News that Hector Fawley will take his place in The Sandgroper sees half the field for the $600,000 event now locked away.

Other greyhounds poised to line-up in the race include Big Energy (Mintbet), Explicit (Punters HQ) and Morton (TABtouch).

Favourite for the race is Jason Thompson's Explicit at $2.60 while Hector Fawley is rated an $8 chance.