Tenacious True Detective exploded away for an emphatic victory in tonight’s Group 3 The Fireball (725m) at The Meadows.

Australia’s most versatile greyhound, True Detective began brilliantly from box two and led the field a merry dance in the $25,000-to-the-winner final.

Trained by Jeff Britton, True Detective ($3.70) defeated Sunset Bourbski ($6.40) by 2.5L, with Rockstar Beav ($10.20) a further 2.37L away third in 42.70sec. (Both minor place-getters are trained by Andrea Dailly).

True Detective (Aug ’17 Black Magic Opal x Little Grey) notched his 25th win from 46 starts and his stakes spiralled to $390,245.

It was his fourth win from eight starts over The Meadows staying trip. He’s also won four of his past six starts.

True Detective has built an imposing black type CV: 1st G1 Hume Cup (600m) – The Meadows; 2nd G1 Fanta Bale Super Stayers (725m) – The Meadows; 2nd G1 Sandown Cup (715m); 1st G2 Summer Distance Plate (720m) – Wentworth Park. He also finished fourth in the G1 Zoom Top (725m) – The Meadows.

Pawnote: It was the third successive The Fireball for the Britton family. Jeff’s brother, Rob, won the event with staying king Tornado Tears in 2018 and 2019.

The Fireball is named in honour of former champion and five-time G1 winner Destini Fireball, who is labelled as “an honest and powerful dog – speed, strength and endurance”.

Ironically, True Detective epitomises what this race is all about. He exemplifies all of Destini Fireball’s traits.

A highly energetic and unflagging type, True Detective is owned by the
Kramerica syndicate managed by George Farrugia, who co-hosted The Meadows Facebook coverage of tonight’s G1 Maturity Classic meeting.

And ecstatic Farrugia simply said post-race: “I couldn’t feel my legs at one stage.”

Farrugia bought True Detective and his littermates as pups from a friend who was retiring from the sport. It was a big decision and it has paid dividends.

“He (True Detective) has got stronger and stronger as he’s gone along… He’s going a bit better than my AFL side, the Hawks,” he quipped.