Will West Australian wunderkind Crumble Monelli ‘take the cake’ in the Sale Sprint Championship (435m) – Race 8, 8.12pm – on Sunday?

It’s a ‘$10,000 question’. But one thing his breeder-owner-trainer Dave Hobby has assured is “he won’t crumble”.

Crumble Monelli (Feb ’21 Barcia Bale x Flake Monelli) was the fastest qualifier last week, clocking a sizzling 24.20sec – the second-fastest time since the recent unveiling of the new track. The other heat was taken out by My Neo in 24.32sec.

Nambrok’s Lyn Smith is once again Crumble Monelli’s caretaker trainer for his second Victorian campaign.

Hobby, who has made the “Monelli” suffix a household name in WA, says Crumble Monelli “has explosive speed once he hits the ground”.

“He’s also got a great will to win. He’s got the ‘smarts’; he’ll push through a field.”

“He’s not super strong but has amazing acceleration when he gets a bit of room to move. And he has that ability to run through a bend at top speed.

“He’s also got a great will to win. He’s got the ‘smarts’; he’ll push through a field.

“Box seven won’t hurt him as he’ll run straight. He won’t ‘crash’ to the rails.”

One of WA’s premier sprinters, Crumble Monelli has raced on 37 occasions for 23 wins, five seconds and two thirds with $559,035 in prizemoney.

This year, he has won the G2 WA Derby, G2 Mandurah Birthday Cup and the inaugural Sandgroper ‘slot’ race. He’s also won three Listed events and was a finalist in the G1 Brisbane Cup.

In a previous Victorian hit-and-run mission, Crumble Monelli finished second in a heat of the G1 Maturity Classic and fifth in a heat of the G2 Healesville Cup.

“I’m interested in the forthcoming (G2) Bendigo Cup,” Hobby said. “He’ll stay with Lyn for that series.

“And we’ll make decisions after that’s done and dusted. But I’m keen to leave him in Victoria for the moment.”

WATCH: WA star CRUMBLE MONELLI (B2) ‘humbles’ his rivals in a Sale Sprint Championship heat last week.