Dyna Tron Wins Wheeler’s 2011 Melbourne Cup Final
Andrea Dailly claimed her first Solo Melbourne Cup at Sandown Park tonight when Dyna Tron led all the way to win Australia's most prestigious race in a race record 29.21 seconds.
In front of one of the largest crowds seen in recent years, Dyna Tron ($4.20) jumped brilliantly to lead Shereen Bale ($3.50) through the first turn and soon established a four length margin entering the back straight. Shereen Bale chased valiantly to trim the final margin to 2¾ lengths, but could do no more as Dyna Tron etched his name into greyhound racing history.
Favourite Bekim Bale ($3) found early trouble before recovery brilliantly to finish a close up fourth behind Allen Elroy ($13.60).
“In the last three or four weeks he's just been jumping out of his skin,” said kennel representative George Dailly.
“He's been racing in tremendous form of late and looked well boxed out in box 7.”
Indeed, coming into the Melbourne Cup, Dyna Tron had had six career starts from box 7, winning three and being placed in three others. His most recent start from the box saw him land the Group 2 Geelong Cup in early November.
The win capped a remarkable night for leviathan New South Wales breeder Paul Wheeler. Having bred the first seven past the post in the Solo Melbourne Cup, Dyna Tron's victory was one of four winners for the family on the night – three of which were trained by Andrea Dailly.
“It's been a real family effort,” said Dyna Tron's owner Brendan Wheeler.
“This win didn't happen overnight, it's taken years and years and we can't thank our trainers enough. They all work very, very hard for this to happen.”
The win was the Wheeler family's second Solo Melbourne Cup success, having previously won the Cup in 1999 with Greyhound Racing Victoria Hall OF Fame member Kantarn Bale.
A member of the brilliant Collision-Gold Rush Bale litter, the win improved Dyna Tron's record to 21 wins from 42 starts, and the $200,000 winner's cheque too his career prizemoney to $317,580.
Earlier in the night, Zipping Malfoy caused the upset of the night to win the Group 1 Bold Trease Carnival Cup.
A son of Malfoy, a Bold Trease Carnival Cup finalist in 2004, Zipping Malfoy ($34.90) jumped straight to the front and was never headed, stopping the clock in a slick 41.79 seconds.
The win was by far the biggest of Zipping Malfoy's career, the $75,000 first prize taking his career prizemoney to over $90,000 in 25 career starts.