Digital Magic Wins Garden’s Group 1 National Futurity
Digital Magic produced a similar effort to win the Nexia and Company National Futurity Final (515m), also worth $50,000 to the winner, as group 1 racing made its debut in the Hunter.
Owner Alan Mottershead labelled trainer Mick Abbott a genius after Digital Magic scorched an all-the-way win.
The Nowra-trained bitch won a speed battle to the first turn and went on to win by 21/4 lengths from Sky Fly High in a smart time of 29.61 seconds.
Favourite Nova Surf was 3 1/4 lengths back third.
Mottershead shares in the ownership Digital Magic, which is his maiden venture in greyhound racing.
“I'm very excited and it is a terrific thrill,” he said.
Abbott, who prepares the brindle bitch at Falls Creek near Nowra, was concerned coming into the series that Digital Magic was not ready to step up to group 1 level.
The trainer, who was in Brisbane attending a surprise birthday party and watched the race on Sky Channel, would now know that she was more than capable.
In his absence, Digital Magic was handled by Dora Creek owner Greg Agius, who has had greyhounds with Abbott for about six years.
Courtesy : John Gilmour, Newcastle Herald
Digital Magic a 30kg bitch used her bulk and hard railing to secure both the fence and the lead as the packed field went into the first turn. It was a race winning move as once in front she was always going to be very hard to beat.
She maintained the lead throughout the rest of the race recording a second section of 17.26 after race favourite Nova Surf ($1.70) had lead into the turn 4.94 Sky Fly High ($16.00) finished a creditable runner-up with the favourite third after her hip and shoulder from the winner at the first turn. Over all time was a handy 29.61.
After the placed runners the field finished in the following order 4th Mona's Abbey ($65.50), 5th Smart Betsy ($10.20), 6th Whirly Storm ($16.30) 7th Farmor Swift ($15.70) and Bongeen's Girl ($15.00) fell.
The National Futurity is another time honoured flagship event for the NCA first run in 1964 it has been won by some wonderful sprinting bitches' over the years most of which continued to carve out outstanding race careers.
-
National Futurity Honour Roll
- 1964 Cultured Girl
- 1965 West Opal
- 1966 Miss Lane
- 1967 Pearl Moss
- 1968 Rocket Bridge
- 1969 Anne Lewis
- 1970 Tidal Mist
- 1971 Top Saba
- 1972 Spanish Dancer
- 1973 Likely Light
- 1974 Tintawin
- 1975 Night Aim
- 1976 Woolley Wong
- 1977 Little Fresh
- 1978 Tearaway Owl
- 1979 Baretop Girl
- 1980 Beaumaris Sue
- 1981 Zany Zen
- 1982 Promises Free
- 1983 Winifred Bale
- 1984 Turbo Top
- 1985 Sophistication
- 1986 Flash Jass
- 1987 Expensive Lee
- 1988 Tiger's Sunset
- 1989 Mary Casey
- 1990 Gozo Nicoloa
- 1991 Just Jedda
- 1992 November Sunset
- 1993 National Night
- 1994 Mystery Idle
- 1995 Tar Dinn
- 1996 Holiday Belle
- 1997 Rare Missile
- 1998 Fine Devil
- 1999 Crystal Light
- 2000 Junoesque
- 2001 Queen Muffin
- 2002 Hotshow Lil
- 2003 Lissiloo
- 2004 Nulkaba
- 2005 Lukeamy
- 2006 Jinderra Flame
- 2007 Bralyn Maisie
- 2008 Elite Oriental
- 2009 Digital Magic