This Week in Racing History

APRIL

30th

NSW stayer Red Mystique scored a narrow but impressive victory in the 1998 Sandown Cup, defeating Totally Ablaze by half a length with Tonight's Wish a half length away third. The field was arguably one of the best to have ever contested the final with the likes of Savanah City (fourth), Ringside Fire (fifth) and Paradise Street (sixth) among the beaten brigade.

MAY

1st

Queensland champion Top Simbi defeated the smart Garron Court by seven lengths over 558 metres at the Gabba in 1974, running 32.50 to equal his own track record.

Ronan Izmir defeated Paw Licking in the 2013 final of the Cup, running a fast 25.01. Ima Geisha Girl was third with Peter Rocket fourth and El Brooklyn fifth. Amazingly, the first five runners across the line were all domiciled in Smith's Lane, Pearcedale. The winner, and fifth placegetter, were trained by Jason Thompson.

2nd

Chief Zephyr, having his first run over 800 yards (732 metres) at Harold Park in 1959, scored by 15 lengths in 43.72. For a short period, times were being taken to the nearest hundredth rather than tenth of a second, though only at Harold Park.

Rylee's Revenge, trained by Michelle Stella, won the 2006 final, over 520 metres, by half a length from Eiswein and , running 31.01.

3rd

Auf Wiedersehen took out the 2006 Warrnambool Classic by almost three lengths in a fair 25.41, earning trainer $50,000. Second and third were Dusty Rhode and Classy Rhode, both trained by local mentor Norm McCullagh.

4th

registered his fourth consecutive victory in the Sandown Cup, annexing the 1989 final by a length and a half from Smart Choice and Blade Action in 43.85 for trainer Norm McCullagh. Bold Trease's sequence is without doubt the only time one greyhound has ever won the same major race four times in succession in world greyhound history and is arguably the greatest achievement ever seen. His 1987 victory is considered as the best of the four victories after he came ‘from the clouds' to win running away by two lengths.

Nova Express won the 1993 Warrnambool Cup by a head from In Pursuit with Rami Legend third.

5th

NSW stayer Dusty Ginny caused somewhat of an upset in winning the 1978 National Distance Championship final, run at Hobart, although she scored in 43.3, setting a new track record and defeating Victorian Mandaquita by five lengths. Fellow NSW finalist Kawati Boy had been expected to take out the event, but could finish only sixth.

Smooth Rumble picked up $100,000 for trainer Steve Kavanagh in taking out the 1997 , scoring by three-quarters of a length from Firing Bear. The race was run over 515 metres at Sandown Park following the of Park.

6th

Travel Rev won the 1971 at Harold Park, overcoming early interference on a rain-affected track to defeat Mustard Moss by two and a half lengths with Tara Flash third in a race record 43.6. Travel Rev earned $5,000 for trainer Alf Hayes, who then announced the retirement of his champion stayer, regarded by many as the greatest to have ever raced over 800 yards (732 metres) at Harold Park.

Veteran trainer Max Wintle took out the 2009 Warrnambool Classic with , who scored by just over two lengths in 25.34 and earned $60,000.

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