Dramatical has announced himself on the big stage, charging home from last to claim a thrilling victory in the Group 2 Sportsbet Warragul Cup (460m) at Warragul on Friday night and immediately putting himself on the radar for the upcoming Sportsbet Australian Cup Carnival.

Connections were quick to flag the rising star to the Sportsbet Temlee selection panel ahead of Monday’s field and box draw announcements.

“We’ve thrown him into the nominations after a track record here and a pretty dominant performance tonight,” handler Luke Thompson said.

“He hasn’t done it on the two-turn track yet, but with the way he’s racing at the moment, he’s as exciting as any dog going around.”

One of the last away from the boxes in the Sportsbet Warragul Cup, the Jason Thompson-trained chaser had plenty to do as pre-race favourite Off The Chart shot to the front and looked to have stolen a winning break turning for home.

But Dramatical unleashed a powerful finishing burst along the inside, storming home along the rail to gap his rivals and score in a slick 25.26 seconds.

Dramatical wins the Group 2 Sportsbet Warragul Cup from box three.

“There’s not going to be many races where he’s an easy watch because of his box manners,” Luke Thompson said.

“But when he gets clear air, he’s got as good a motor as any dog.”

Off The Chart and Robinson filled the minor placings in the Sportsbet Warragul Cup.

Still just 15 starts into his career, Dramatical’s rise has been rapid.

Friday night’s triumph marked the son of Bernardo and Shallow Witts’ first Group race victory, taking his record to an impressive nine wins from 15 outings.

That record already includes a Warragul 460m track record of 25.16 seconds.

The win, however, came with mixed emotions for Team Thompson. Earlier in the week, kennel star Delicate was scratched after sustaining a stopped bone injury following her best-of-the-night Sportsbet Warragul Cup heat victory.

Nevertheless, Dramatical’s Warragul Cup performance only reinforced what many had suspected – this is a greyhound with a big future.

“For a young dog, he’s got a really good brain on him – he’s very smart and very switched on,” Thompson said.
“Once that gap presented up the straight, he just took off.

“Since he’s gone to Healesville, his runs there have been enormous and they’ve translated to the half circle. Now it’s time to hopefully do it on the two-turn on the big stage.”

Thompson confirmed the Sportsbet Australian Cup Carnival is next on the agenda for the exciting youngster.

“He’s not even two years old yet, and with the engine he’s got, we don’t know how good he could be.”

Field announcements and box draws for the invitationals will be conducted on Monday. Box draws will be streamed live from approximately 1pm during a special edition of Grey Areas. You can tune in via the Watchdog App or The Meadows’ Facebook page.

Click here for the Sportsbet Australian Cup Carnival race conditions.