It was a familiar tale at Warrnambool tonight with Orson Allen reaffirming his status as Australia’s premier sprinter and putting him one win away from securing a $50,000 triple country cups bonus.
Having won the past two Victorian country cups – the Cranbourne Cup in February and the Horsham Cup in March – Orson Allen stepped out from box one in a heat of the Warrnambool Cup (450m) to win by almost nine lengths as the $1.20 favourite in a Best of Night 24.93sec.
GRV offers a $50,000 bonus to any greyhound that can win three Victorian country cups in a calendar year and, combined with a $47,000 first prize in next Wednesday night’s final, it could prove a handsome $97,000 payday for the Correy Grenfell-trained greyhound.
The next fastest heat winner was Australian Cup winner Dyna Patty in 25.03, followed by Lucy’s Milo (25.05), Dyna Hunter (25.09), Whiskey Riot (25.10) and Eye Got It (25.49).
Local star Crimson Vixen, trained by the legendary Norm McCullagh, secured her place in the cup when running second to Whiskey Riot, ensuring it will be a packed house with plenty of parochialism at next week’s final, which falls in the midst of Warrnambool’s popular thoroughbred carnival.
