Aston Dee Bee wins 2017 Group 1 Melbourne Cup
ASTON Dee Bee (Barcia Bale x Aston Elle Apr '15) recorded the biggest win of his career in Friday night's Group 1 Melbourne Cup (515m) at Sandown Park.
Trained by Seona Thompson and owned by Ray Borda, Aston Dee Bee started favourite after coming up with box one and was fairly into stride when the lids flew open.
In his 9th attempt at a Group final he's broken through.
Aston Dee Bee the 2017 @tabcomau #MelbourneCup?champ! pic.twitter.com/wM2EJeiOO0
— Sandown Greyhounds (@sandowndogs) November 24, 2017
It was a mad rush into the first turn, with Raw Ability (Barcia Bale x Bugatti Flyer Mar '15) and Up Hill Jill (Premier Fantasy x Where's Demonica Feb '15) vying for the lead before bumping which allowed Aston Dee Bee to slip through along the fence and assume the lead.
Once the black powerhouse found the front it was a case of times and margins as Aston Dee Bee stretched out to clock a fast 29.36 on the rain affected track.
Chasin' Crackers (Fabregas x Lady Arko Aug '15) and Kouta Mayhem (Fabregas x Belle's Melody Feb '15) filled the placings, ensuring a healthy trifecta which paid $133.
Seona Thompson struggled to hold back tears following the race, praising her charge for the gutsy win.
“I just can't believe it,” she said.
“I just wanted him to hold his spot through the first turn and he did that – up the back I could see Kouta Mayhem coming but I knew he'd be strong enough [to hold him out].
“It means everything to me, it's been a big couple of weeks so it's made it all worthwhile, that's for sure.”
Aston Dee Bee uses the rails draw perfectly to race away for a dominant win in the world's richest greyhound race! The TAB #MelbourneCup? pic.twitter.com/Lcy7LgVbUz
— TAB (@tabcomau) November 24, 2017
Aston Dee Bee has now won 27 races from 48 starts. Friday's win was his first group 1 victory, having previously run second in the Group 1 Topgun, the Group 1 Adelaide Cup and the Group 3 Healesville Cup.
He had also finished third in the Group 1 National Sprint Championship, the Group 2 Bendigo Cup and was a finalist in the Group 2 Warragul Cup and the Group 2 Traralgon Cup.
Friday's win took his earnings to $631,025 – placing him in 10th spot on the all time prize money earner's list.