French Martini the toast of the town after record breaking Black Top win
It was a bittersweet victory for Million Dollar Chase finalist French Martini on Friday night at The Gardens in a heat of the Sires On Ice Group 2 Black Top, after being taken off at the first turn in last week's grand final; the Peter Lagogiane-trained chaser stamped her authority from box six obliterating the 515m track record broken for the first time since 2018.
The daughter of Aston Dee Bee and Sheez My Chicki stepped cleanly and drove to the front to lead throughout, posting sizzling sectionals of 4.92, 17.01 and a blistering run home of 11.93 to stop the clock in 28.96, becoming the first greyhound at the Hunter Valley circuit to break the 29-second barrier. Lagogiane said post-race he wasn't surprised by her performance, but didn't expect it to happen so soon.
“After she ran 29.22 on debut here, I thought she could give the record a shake during the warmer months when the track was a bit faster, but did not expect it to happen tonight.”
“She had no luck in the million dollar chase final last week after getting taken off at the first turn and as disappointing as that was, her record on Friday was bittersweet.”
2022 Black Top Heat 4 – French Martini (28.96 – New Track Record)
Coming up with box seven once again in Friday night's $40,000 to-the-winner final, the two-time Million Dollar Chase winning trainer is still optimistic about her chances.
“I can't avoid the seven, but if she can jump like she did tonight and put herself into the race, she's a real chance. She will need all the luck in the world, but fingers crossed.”
2022 Group 2 Black Top Final Box Draw
2022 Black Top Final Field Box DrawThe Gardens515m$40,000 to-the-winnerGroup 2
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1 Gatlin
T: John FinnF: 3181Career: 30: 11-6-7
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2 Esther's Thrill
T: Noelene HollowayF: 3152Career: 73: 16-11-10
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3 Fat Boy's Dream
T: Jason MackayF: 3311Career: 24: 12-4-5
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4 Zipping Kyrgios
T: John FinnF: 1121Career: 73: 32-15-8
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5 Yuko Girl
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6 Zipping Maserati
T: Martin HallinanF: 1212Career: 45: 24-8-41
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7 French Martini
T: Peter LagogianeF: 4161Career: 18: 10-0-2
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8 Good Odds Cash
T: Frank HurstF: 1542Career: 58: 28-10-6
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9 Hold Me Up
T: Joe ComitoF: 2712Career: 45: 12-6-7
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10 Chasing Fernando
T: Craig WattsF: 2262Career: 51: 13-17-7
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Just an hour prior, in-form chaser Gatlin (Dyna Double One x Von Magic) stepped out in the opening heat of the series also from box six and sent tongues wagging after clocking a scintillating 29.09, shaving 0.07 off Zipping Bailey's previous record, set during July of 2018. The Group 1 Vic Peters Classic victor held off a gallant Zipping Maserati who finished a length behind, for white-hot trainers John and Melinda Finn.
2022 Black Top Heat 1 – Gatlin (29.09 – Track Record At The Time)
Consistent chaser Fat Boy's Dream (Aston Dee Bee x Fat Boy's Baby) continued her winning ways in heat two, stepping cleanly from box four and hooking to the outside around her rivals at the first turn. The Jason Mackay-trained runner scored by a length and a half at the finish in a speedy 29.28, with a slick run home of 12.09.
2022 Black Top Heat 2 – Fat Boy's Dream (29.28)
The barest of margins separated the winner and runner-up in heat three, with early leader Yuko Girl clinging on by a whisker to defeat the fast-finishing Good Odds Cash. The Sam Sultana prepared daughter of Zambora Brockie and Yuko stopped the clock in 29.35 for the 515m journey, with sheer determination allowing her to claim victory with Frank Hurst's Good Odds Cash securing her spot in next week's Friday night final.
2022 Black Top Heat 3 – Yuko Girl (29.35)
All eyes were on defending champion Zipping Kyrgios (Aussie Infrared x Zipping Lilly) in the final heat, exiting from box one the John Finn trained chaser produced another customary come-from-behind performance to claim victory in a sizzling 29.17, with a scintillating run home of 11.99. The Million Dollar Chase Grand Final runner-up, who weighs in at just 30.6kg has a chance to creep towards $600,000 in prize money if he can claim back-to-back Black Top title's next week