We knew it was getting close. dockerland?s Showground Larry had been running some cracking races of late and finishing some well earned placings. He has had his paw on the till, he?d been knocking on the door, he was doing every other thing that means you?re getting close to a win. Then last night at Cannington Greyhounds the Showground came to town. Big Larry went straight to the front and was never headed.

The dockerland syndicate members were pretty keen on his chances and many of them lined up at the tote and backed their judgment in by putting plenty of their hard earned on. Pete Sayer has done a magnificent job with Larry strength wise and in box manners. He has steadily increased his stamina and turned him from a dog that jumped at right angles to one now who pings the lids and goes dead straight. Pete?s wife Helen, who is a known very astute judge, said Larry was ready. Sure she didn?t elaborate on what he was ready for but he was ready none the less.

Punters were warming to the chances of the Showground Larry as he even ended up the late mail tip but the big danger in the race was the dog in box one called Underworld Jet. He had had three starts from box one for three wins and was looking to continue that record. The plan was simple. Larry leads and he?s a big chance. If Larry doesn?t lead and Underworld Jet is in front of him early then he couldn?t win. Glen ?The Foreman? Price said he could hardly hold him as he was busting to get to the boxes. He had that killer look in his eye and was completely switched on. When the lid opened Larry was off like a bullet. Out by a length and a half at the first turn he extended to three lengths down the back straight. This was where the race was going to get interesting. We know Larry had them covered for pace but the strength side of things was where the question mark hung. Entering the home straight Underworld Jet was cutting into Larry?s lead. The Showground shone as he fought vigorously to keep in front and as the winning post drew near the Jet almost had him. If you had taken the $7.70 on offer you were dead set sweating bullets. It was like the final minute of the grand final. The Eagles were coming and you were just shouting for the siren to sound to get the Swannies over the line. Last night when the winning post arrived it resembled Leaping Leo Barry. The Showground had shown all the guts and determination to hold on and pinch the Canning Stake in a career best 30.93 seconds and by the official margin of an ant?s knacker.

It was a magnificent win and one that broke the duck with Larry in WA and brought up the first dockerland win under the Sayers. The credit has to go to Pete and Helen. They have done a sensational job and as Pete doesn?t mind a beer or two if you see him out there buy the bloke a couple of coldies. Helen isn?t a drinker but apart from that fault she goes alright.

So onwards and upwards. On Tuesday we find out if dockerland?s T-Rad trained Vivify gains a start. She is a reserve in a 530 metre race at Mandurah being race 11 at 6.57pm. The scratchings come out about 9.30am Tuesday morning so we?ll know more then.


Dividends from last night
Showground Larry
Win - $7.70
Place - $1.40
Quinella ? Nos 1 & 3 - $7.10
Exacta ? Nos 3 & 1 - $23.50
Trifecta ? Nos 3,1 & 2 - $56.20
Quartet ? Nos 3,1,2 & 4 - $538.20