No doubt the highlights for the week of metro racing came from the superb night of chasing at The Meadows on Saturday night. The four semi finals of the Maturity didn’t go to plan according to many, whilst the two heats for the stayers did.
All eyes were on the semi finals of the Maturity with the mighty Fernando Bale looking for 17 straight, but it was Secret Spell who spoiled the party with a slick 30.05 all the way win in the third semi (Replay). Despite succumbing to his first loss in 17 races, Fernando Bale still has some good news to share after qualifying for the Group 1 final and drawing ideally in box two.
The first of the semi finals went to the borderline superstar chaser Dyna Double One (pictured), who has really come of age of late. The Andrea Dailly prepared sprinter seems to have improved his box manners and with splits of 5.09 and 17.74, he threatens to become a star of the game if he isn’t already. He eventually scooted home to an easy four length win in 29.59 over Margins, who was a highly impressive second place getter (Replay).
Emrys kept his great record around The Meadows in tact with a super strong 29.93 win in semi two. The Mario Briganti chaser swept away after tracking Hogganaught though at the first bend into a dangerous second down the back straight. Both greyhounds qualified for the $145,000 Maturity next weekend. (Replay).
The third semi final produced a two dog war with the tear away leader Black Illusion staving off a late charge from Ivy Bale to salute in 30.10 with both advancing to the final round (Replay).
The two heats of the stayers went to plan as Lady Toy and Dzeko went home to win in 42.77 and 42.94 respectively.
Back to The Meadows on Wednesday and Brooke Ennis had a fabulous day out training a perfect quartet of winners. The day started well for Brooke who won the first with What You Say in 30.48, followed by Bucky Boy in the third running 30.07, then Vapour Lee and Heard It Before in 30.19 and 30.22. The Ennis team then went on to round the day out five from five with a smart winner at Ballarat later that night.
Sandown Park on Thursday night produced some smart winners including Magic Earner who’s stayed out the 715m beautifully with a slick 41.85 win in the fifth on the card (Replay). She positioned perfectly up on the speed initially and her strength prevailed with a dominant five length victory.
Weblec Belle was able to weave a clear passage early in the ‘RSN’ grade five final eventually gunning down the tear away leader Ronray Spirit in a flying 29.40. (Replay).
The reigning Melbourne Cup winner was easily dispersed of after leading the FFA clearly. Xtreme Knocka stormed home to salute in 29.41 with Cosmic Wise passing Dyna Villa up the straight to drop the initial leader back to a disappointing third (Replay).
We may have witnessed something very special at Sandown Park on Sunday with the unbeaten Blazin’ Bomber who overcame a moderate start to win in a flying 29.28. He appears to have a boom career awaiting and with a run home in the 10.40’s, he should stay 600m+ easily! (Replay)
It was great to see the Group 1 winning Above All resume after a injury informed break with a breathtaking 29.25 win proving he’s come back as good as he was (Replay).
The trio of super impressive win was rounded out by the $1.04 favourite in the third of the day Shared Equity. She destroyed her opponents with a cruise seven length win in 29.38 (Replay).
That’s wraps up a stunning week of metropolitan greyhound racing.
.
[youtube youtubeurl=”KIEHEkkmGyg” ][/youtube]
Watch: The Darren Pattinson-trained Blazin’ Bomber (6) overcomes early interference to stretch his record to six from six in his metropolitan debut at Sandown Park on Sunday, running a low-flying 29.28.
RSN race caller with a love for greyhound racing. Owner, trainer and breeder with a driving passion to win a Group race. (The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of GRV)
Kerrin and Rochelle Shortis are two of the most inspirational greyhound racing participants you will ever meet. Both were fearless jockeys before both, tragically and remarkably, suffered career…