Untapped talent Bewildering completed a stunning clean-sweep of the rich Group 2 Macey’s Bistro Warrnambool Classic series with a runaway victory in Wednesday night’s final.
At just his 12th start, Bewildering, trained by Seona Thompson, upstaged two of the best sprinters in the land in Lightning Frank and Up Hill Jill when careering away with the $75,000 to-the-winner Classic.
Bewildering is a son of 2013 Melbourne Cup hero Black Magic Opal, which also left his mark on the Warrnambool Carnival, claiming the Cup in 2014, and he’s raced in the same interests, the See The Dream Syndicate, featuring long-time Thompson kennel clients Sergio and Bill Buccilli.
“We won the Melbourne Cup and a Warrnambool Cup with Black Magic Opal among other races,” Sergio said.
“We bred this dog. He’s a litter brother to Extreme Magic, who is the quickest dog we’ve ever had. Extreme Magic tends to grind away in his races whereas Bewildering is more of a sprinter. In fact, he is racing more and more like Black Magic Opal did.”
Bewildering had been beaten at his previous five starts heading into the Classic series, but he stormed into the decider with commanding heat and semi-final victories, clocking 24.93sec and 25.40sec respectively.
Drawn in box eight for the decider, Bewildering was one of only three contenders at single figure odds, starting at $7.50, with local hero Lightning Frank, a dual Group 1 winner, dominating the market at $1.50 from the rails and fastest semi winner Up Hill Jill the $3.90 second elect.
Up Hill Jill won the early speed battle, with Lightning Frank getting into trouble, while Bewildering moved ominously into second.
Bewildering swept to the front rounding the home turn and quickly put paid to Up Hill Jill, powering clear to score by an ever-widening 4 ½ lengths in an airborne 24.74sec, just .02sec outside Unlawful Entry’s 450m track record.
“We were very confident. He’s got the ability and got the bloodlines to achieve anything,” Buccilli said.
“It’s great to race against the best and beat the best, and with greyhounds like Lightning Frank and Up Hill Jill in the race it was probably one of the strongest Warrnambool Classic fields assembled in recent years.
“Lightning Frank is sired by Black Magic Opal as well so we are always cheering for him whenever he races, although it was obviously nice to beat him tonight.”
Bewildering in action.
Bewildering leading the way.
Watch BEWILDERING win the 2017 Macey’s Bistro Warrnambool Classic in 24.74.
*This article was compiled by Gerard Guthrie and Andrew Copley.