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  • Wednesday, 09 Feb, 2022,
  • by Gerard Guthrie

Buddy’s back better than ever

A bullish Steve White has declared record-breaking sprinter Paua Of Buddy “better than ever” after a runaway verdict over Traralgon Cup winner Typhoon Sammy at Warragul on Tuesday night.

In what shaped as a mouth-watering duel, Paua Of Buddy, having only his second start since winning the Group 2 Bendigo Cup on October 16, and Typhoon Sammy, which ran third in the Bendigo Cup, clashed over 460m.

After winning the Bendigo Cup in 23.29sec, just .01sec outside Typhoon Sammy’s 425m track record established in the heats, Paua Of Buddy spent almost three months on the sidelines before returning in the G2 Traralgon Cup heats last month.

Paua Of Buddy ran second to Earn The Answers, which saw him first reserve for the Cup final, won by Typhoon Sammy.

“He’s better than he was when he won the Bendigo Cup.”

The country cups heroes, both sons of Aston Dee Bee, dominated betting on Tuesday’s Warragul showdown, with Paua Of Buddy (Box 4) $1.80 favourite, shading Typhoon Sammy (Box 5), trained by Jason Thompson, at $1.90.

However, the anticipated ‘match race’ didn’t eventuate, as Paua Of Buddy was a dominant all-the-way winner, trouncing Typhoon Sammy by 5.91 lengths in a flying Best Of Night 25.30sec.

“He’s better than he was when he won the Bendigo Cup,” said White, who’s based at Buln Buln East.

“I had his tonsils removed while he was out with a cut leg, and I think that’s made a huge difference. The big thing is that he’s pulling up fantastic now, which was a problem with him before.

“I trialled him over 400m at Warragul last Thursday and he smashed his own record.

WATCH: Paua Of Buddy was a brilliant all-the-way winner over Typhoon Sammy in a battle of the country cups winners at Warragul on Tuesday night.

“He went super last night. I just didn’t want Typhoon Sammy to be too far in front of us – I knew I’d be stronger – but I didn’t have to worry about that when Paua Of Buddy went straight to the front.

“He’s just a fast dog and is in the top bracket we’ve had. I’ll tell you that!”

It was Paua Of Buddy’s fifth win from six starts over Warragul’s 460m course and less than two lengths outside Shima Shine’s 25.19sec track record.

Now the winner of nine from 13, Paua Of Buddy holds his home track’s 400m record (22.00sec), having taken it off his older half-brother Paua Of Oscar.

“He runs records or near-records wherever he goes,” White said.

“I don’t have any qualms about taking anything on over 460m and he’s going to run 500m too; I’ve got no doubt about that.

I’ll probably target some of the country cups that are coming up, Shepparton and Warrnambool, and I want to get him up to Wentworth Park for a look before the Golden Easter Egg and Million Dollar Chase.”

White claimed a ‘family’ double at Warragul, with Paua Of Buddy’s litter sister Paua Of Janie, runner-up to Typhoon Sammy in the Traralgon Cup final, a Best Of Night 22.40sec winner over 400m, her 11th win from 18 starts.

Paua Of Buddy winning the Group 2 Bendigo Cup final on October 16.

Gerard GuthrieGerard Guthrie

Gerard Guthrie

One of Australia’s leading greyhound racing journalists since 2000 with the Greyhound Recorder and now with Greyhound Racing Victoria. Part-owner 2013 Group 1 Paws Of Thunder winner Sheikha. (The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of GRV)

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