The Sandgroper Right In Morton's Sweet ‘Slot'

IN stark contrast to the disappointment of failing to secure a slot in The Phoenix, Group 1-winning Victorian powerhouse Morton is one of the first sprinters chosen for WA feature The Sandgroper.

Morton, trained by Jason and Jessica Sharp, was regarded by many experts as desperately unlucky to be bypassed for The Phoenix, the world's richest race, in December.

Since The Phoenix snub, Morton has gone on to G1 glory in the Gold Bullion in Brisbane and was this week announced as slot-holder TABTouch's representative in the second edition of The Sandgroper.

Greyhound racing's leg of the tri-code Western Trilogy series, the Sandgroper offers total prizemoney of $600,000, including $300,000 to-the-winner.

"We started discussions about the Sandgroper when Morton won the Derby in Brisbane," said Jason Sharp, still coming to terms with a richly deserved G1 breakthrough in the Gold Bullion.

Can you believe it ????

Victorian star Morton does the impossible and comes from midfield to run down the flying All Natural in the last stride and claims the $375,000 @GarrardsHnH
Gold Bullion Final!

What a race!@RaceQLD @tabcomau @SkyRacingAU @GerardDaffy @MMcInallyPhotos pic.twitter.com/Sowbzx7MVU

— Brisbane Greyhounds (@BrisGreys) February 1, 2024

"I don't want to talk the dog up too much, but they (TABTouch) wanted a dog that would bring people to the track and that's why they picked Morton."

Morton joins fellow Vic Explicit in WA's richest greyhound race, to be run at Cannington on Thursday, April 18, with last Saturday's brilliant G1 Temlee victor snapped up by Punters HQ.

Adding interest to Morton's Sandgroper quest, he'll be venturing to the old stomping ground of his sire, former local cult hero Tommy Shelby.

Morton gave Tommy Shelby his first G1 winner in the Gold Bullion, also winning the G2 Queensland Derby at Albion Park in January.

"Steve (Withers, Tommy Shelby's trainer/stud master) rang me yesterday," Sharp said.

"We had a bit of a chat and he offered to help, which is great.

"The plan now is to take Morton over to Perth for a look at Cannington the week before the Perth Cup heats (March 9) and then go back for the heats and hopefully the final. 

"We've been umming and ahing about the Easter Egg, but I don't think we'll go there because Wentworth Park doesn't really suit him. You've just got to be so brilliant early there."

Morton's immediate target is Saturday night's semi-finals of the G1 Australian Cup, which Tommy Shelby won in 2021.

On last Saturday's opening night of the Cup Carnival, Morton ran a luckless fifth in the Temlee, making up considerable late ground from last after his chances were cruelled by early interference.

The Sharps will be hoping for a long overdue change of box draw fortune for the Cup semis, with Morton exiting boxes four, five and six in eight of his last nine starts.

"They don't want to make it easy for him!" Sharp quipped.

"It makes it so hard, especially against these good dogs.

"I'd even take box eight. All he needs is clear air.

"The Temlee was one of those races where he either had to ping or miss it, but of course he came out with them.

"He was pretty close to getting through and if he had he would've made things very interesting. 

"He was entitled to run last, but he went past some very good dogs and he's come through the run as good as gold."