Hard Style Rico surprised everyone but his trainer Luckie Karabitsakos in tonight’s Group 3 RSN Silver Bullet (525m) at The Meadows paying a staggering $8.10 for the win as greyhound racing’s Metropolitan Festival of Racing got underway.
Jumping from box seven in the $25,000 to-the-winner race, Hard Style Rico was able to cross Simon Told Helen and lead with a blistering 5.02sec early, stopping the clock 1.5 lengths off Allen Deed’s 525m record in a time of 29.46sec (12.06sec run home).
Simon Told Helen, who was the TAB favourite heading into the race, finished second in front of up-and-comer Dr. Tucker.
“He is a great dog. Credit to all the dogs in the field, it was a tough one and to do what he has done tonight just shows the quality of the dog himself,” trainer Luckie Karabitsakos told Jason Bonnington on course.
The Group 3 Silver Bullet victory is Hard Style Rico’s second group race victory after claiming the Group 2 Shepparton Cup in March this year.
The son of Bella Infrared and Bella Rico is trained, owned and was bred by Karabitsakos.
“I am overwhelmed. He has been a great dog for us and hopefully he goes on with it.”
Hard Style Rico is the first reserve in the Group 1 Topgun which will be run on Saturday night at The Meadows.
The RSN Silver Bullet was the opening group race of the Metropolitan Festival of Racing, which will see almost $2 million distributed across five nights of racing in November at The Meadows and Sandown Park.
The Group 1 Hume Cup was also run at The Meadows on the same night, with Last Hurrah making it seven straight wins and snaring his first group victory at start number 70.
