Stayer Claims SA National Sprint Title For Giniotis
Aunty Vick a greyhound known more as a stayer who tried to qualify in 2008 for the New South Wales National Distance Championship, has won the South Australian National Sprint Championship Final for trainer Mick Giniotis.
Having only over started over the sprint distances at nineteen of her sixty six starts, Aunty Vick managed to rally from last early to claim the South Australian final in a driving bunched finish where just 2.5 lengths seperated the first four greyhounds over the line.
Sent out at luxury odds of $11.00 after producing a big finish in the heats last week to get up by a head over C'mon Billy in 30.05, Aunty Vick produced a similar effort tonight getting back to last early and working up toward those in front at every point in the race.
Kiowa Angel flew the boxes early and was quickly joined by Manhattan Angel and those too poured the pressure on, although Manhattan Angel was clearly unhappy not being able to cross Kiowa Angel who held the inside.
Coming to the home corner Manhattan Angel clearly looked under pressure as was Kiowa Angel with Red Demon looming and Tread Lightly working for a run, but Aunty Vick had loomed within striking range and had gotten to the outside of Red Demon and Kiowa Angel with Manhattan Angel weakening.
In a driving finish Aunty Vick prevailed with the momentum and Kiowa Angel hung on valiantly for second in 29.95.
The $4,250 first prizemoney adds to Aunty Vick's career prizemoney total of $47,615 to take her just over the $50,000 mark from a 66 start career that has netted 19 wins and 31 placings.
Better known as a stayer, the July 2006 blue bitch is by Elite State~Pretty Jacalyn and she has started 19 times over the sprint journeys for 8 wins and 8 placings, whereas middle distance and staying races have seen her face the starter 47 times for 11 wins and 23 placings.
Owned by the Racing Fun 13 Syndicate, Aunty Vick began her racing career in Brisbane under the guidance of John Dart before transferring to South Australia half way through her career.
Having now secured her place in the rich Group 1 National Sprint Championship Final, it won't be Aunty Vick's first group race final, as finished last in the 2008 Group 3 Queensland Cup over 600m at Albion Park.
Other group race performances include a sixth in her Group 1 2009 Adeaide Cup Semi Final behind Proven Polly after winning her heat in 30.51; a seventh behind Western Land in the 2008 Group 2 Hume Cup heats for the stayers at The Meadows; and a fifth behind Risk It in her 2008 heat of the New South Wales National Distance Championship at Wentworth Park.