Underrated Victorian-trained sprinter Blackalls Boss ($7.60) has made a late claim for the Victorian Greyhound of the Year title by snaring the $107,000 Group 1 Hobart Thousand on Thursday night.
 
The son of Hallucinate and Blackalls Beauty had to dig deep to defeat local star Rewind (Morris Strickland), with the two staging a great battle. Victorian favourite Walk Hard (Nicole McRae) finished third.
  
Amazingly Rewind, who was aiming for 11 straight wins, was also runner-up in the 2011 Hobart Thousand after an unforgettably close dual with Dyna Tron.
   
The win by the Vince Tullio-owned Blackalls Boss has capped a superb second half of 2012 after he won the Group 2 Shepparton Cup and finished second in the Group 2 Geelong Cup and Group 2 Ballarat Cup. He also finished 6th in the Group 2 Traralgon Cup.
 
For trainer Michelle Mallia-Magri of Lara, winning the Hobart Thousand is her finest moment. Growing up she was involved with some top class greyhounds through her dad Charlie Mailia, who trained the likes of 1992 Victorian Greyhound of the Year, Pace Galore.