Crackerjack Choc Australian Cup bound after Cranbourne Cup win

TALENTED Victorian sprinter Crackerjack Choc will be aimed at the heats of the Australian Cup (525m) at on February 25 after a terrific win in Saturday night's Group 2 Cranbourne Cup (520m).

Jumping from box two, the black dog was fairly into stride and was able to hug the fence in the early stages, slipping into third spot around the first turn.

Down the back Crackerjack Choc was able to push up along the rails as leader Archie Fields (box six) drifted off the track, assuming the top spot and kicking clear.

Despite a late challenge from Archie Fields, Crackerjack Choc was able to kick once more in the shadows of the post, scoring by 0.31 lengths in 30.14.

Race favourite (box three) missed the kick and found trouble, finishing fifth.

The victory was a career highlight for both Crackerjack Choc and his trainer Anita Courts, who was hoping her greyhound would run a place heading into the $47,000-to-the-winner feature.

“I did give him a chance, but I didn't at the same time. I thought it would have been great to run a placing behind Jason's dog Big Flood – but when he railed up going past the 699m boxes I was really happy with him,” Courts told Australian Racing Greyhound.

“I still didn't get confident – even coming around the home turn I shut my eyes – it wasn't until I heard them say he had won that I realised he got there.

“I was speechless – I couldn't talk or breathe – it was an emotional feeling. You go in preparing yourself, hoping they'll run a decent race but you never expect to come out and win.

“I am still on cloud nine – it hasn't really sunk in yet. It was pretty much business as usual on Sunday morning with the dogs so I still haven't had a chance to sit down and really think about it.

“But it's a good feeling.”

Crackerjack Choc took his career statistics to 14 wins and 18 minor placings from 55 starts, with his prize money earnings now in excess of $93,000.

It was a dream result for Courts, who has been training greyhounds for just under a decade with her partner.

“I was born into the industry – my dad was never a superstar trainer, but he was a backyard hobbyist and he is still involved in the greyhounds.

“Once you are born into the industry you are in it for life, you can try and get out of it but it's almost impossible.

“I have been training full time with my partner Michael Gibbons for around seven or eight years – we always have a small team in work.

“Prior to moving up with him I started off catching dogs at The Meadows, and Cranbourne so to even have a dog go into a race was just unbelievable.”

The son of Cosmic Rumble and Lizzie's Memory has since been announced as one of the top 56 greyhounds seeded into the heats of the 2017 Group 1 Australian Cup, with the qualifiers set to be run and won at The Meadows next Saturday night.

The other greyhounds seeded into the heats are as follows:
Aeroplane Bob
Allen Marky
Alpha Demeter
Aqua Cheetah
Aston Bolero
Benteke
Big Flood
Blazin' Bomber

Buck Forty
Cavalcade
Crackerjack Choc
Demon Bale
Diego Bale
Dundee Osprey
Dyna Boomer
Eddie Eagle

Extreme Magic
Fanta Bale
Gaucho
Helga Bale
Hit The Highway
Invictus Rapid
Jesaulenko
Judicial Man
Kilty Express
Leo's Gift

Lithgow Panther
Matt Machine
Mitcharlie Mia
Monaro Monelli
Moreira
Mystery Ride
Nangar Range
One For Me

Penny Monelli
Pepper Fire
Pop The Cork
Promises Kept
Reefton Treasure
Set Point
Shima Bar

Single Sticka
Sleek Master
Steel The Best
Striker Light
Tedesco
Unlawful Entry
Worm Burner
Zabdon Ferrari
Zambora Brockie
Zipping Bruiser

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