Still over the (Alfie) ‘Moon’ after celebrating her first official Group victory on Sandown Cup night, Jess Hopkins is set to maintain the rage in Thursday night’s $15,250 Judy Hayley Memorial (515m).
Hopkins will return to Sandown Park with two finalists in the 12th staging of the Judy Hayley Memorial (race 3, 6.48pm), run in honour of the 2001 Melbourne Cup-winning trainer, who sadly passed away in 2012.
Riding the crest of a feature race wave, Junction Village-based Hopkins boasts the class runner in the $10,000 to-the-winner feature, which is restricted to female trainers, in fastest heat winner Bobby Axelrod.
A finalist in the G2 Ballarat Cup in April, Bobby Axelrod started $1.50 from box one in the first of two heats held on Sunday afternoon and was untroubled in leading all-the-way, scoring by 6.25 lengths in a Best Of Day 29.41sec.
WATCH: BOBBY AXELROD (B1) is the fastest qualifier for Thursday night’s Judy Hayley Memorial (515m) at Sandown Park after a dominant BOD 29.41sec heat victory on Sunday afternoon.
It was the son of 2018 Melbourne Cup winner My Redeemer’s first ‘city’ success since relocating from SA to Victoria at the start of 2023, albeit two of his previous three attempts had come in G1 heats in the Australian Cup and Harrison-Dawson.
With an imposing 50 per cent 21 from 42 career record, Bobby Axelrod is rated a clearcut $1.70 favourite by form expert The Watchdog.
“I was really happy with him on Sunday; he went half a second quicker than the other heat,” Hopkins said.
“But he still didn’t go real quick early – he only went 5.16sec – which is a bit of a worry.
“He just takes a step before he accelerates.
“I think 500m is his pet distance. He was running in the country cups because they were on and he was racing well, he’s actually a really strong 500m dog.
“I think the draw (box four) is okay, but he can definitely be beaten. He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed when he gets behind in his races.”
Hopkins secured a second finalist in heat two when the enigmatic Archman ($13.70) stormed home from last to run third, beaten less than two lengths by 29.91sec winner Lakeview Buff, prepared by Monique Whelan.
Archman, a well-bred Fernando Bale x Psychotic Gold litter brother to Hopkins’ The Lizrene winner Alfie Moon, has been a source of enormous frustration, with his three from 23 record not doing justice to his ability.
“Archman is the fastest dog in my kennel; he’s an absolute freak, but he can’t win a country race!” Hopkins said.
“Petar Jovanovic (multiple G1-winning trainer) owns him and Alfie Moon and he says Archman is one of the fastest dogs he’s ever had, which is saying something.
“He just doesn’t show it.
“He’s capable of winning the race. But he could come last too. It just depends which dog shows up!
“The box draw doesn’t matter with him. I assume he’ll flop out and be last early like he was on Sunday.
“I’d have to say Bobby Axelrod is my best chance, but who knows with Archman?”
Hopkins added that Alfie Moon is heading to Queensland, with his target the G1 Queensland Cup (710m).
Sandown’s celebration of ‘Women In Racing’ on Thursday night also features the $15,250 GOTBA Karen Leek Memorial (race 4, 7.07pm).
An icon of the Victorian greyhound racing industry, Karen Leek passed away in tragic circumstances in 2020 and was posthumously inducted into GRV’s Hall Of Fame.
Other Hall Of Fame luminaries recognised on the program are Marg Thomas, Mary Lieshout, Jan Wilson, Marg Long and Pat Haas.
