Gotta Bet Back scores sensational win in Group 2 Shepparton Cup
GOTTA Get Back scored the biggest win of his 36 start career when scoring a determined victory in Friday night's Group 2 Shepparton Cup (450m).
Stepping well from box four, Gotta Get Back was caught in the middle of a tight three way battle for the lead with Aston Bolero (box one) and Dalgetty (box eight) in the charge to the first turn, with the blue and white dog showing tremendous tenacity to burst through and assume the top spot.
Out in front, the son of Vee Man Vane and Majestic Land was able to slip away, with the Robert Britton-trained Bearville Azza (box seven) weaving his way through the field to get into second spot behind the leader.
Turning for home and, despite Bearville Azza trying his hardest to reduce the margain, Gotta Get Back was going too well out in front and was able to cruise across the line 1.41 lengths clear in a slick 25.10.
Bearville Azza managed to run second, with the ultra-consistent Big Ticket (box two) filling the trifecta back in third spot.
The fancied Jason Thompson pair, Dalgetty and Aston Bolero, finished fourth and last respectively after getting tangled in the early stages.
Trained in Jindera, NSW, by John McClellend, Gotta Get Back was sent to the boxes as one of the outsiders at $20.40.
Despite the big odds, McClellend says he was expecting a good run from his 31.6 kilogram powerhouse.
“Because of his early speed I thought if he was able to stick his nose out in front then they would have a tough task running him down,” McClellend told Australian Racing Greyhound.
“As it turned out he wasn't left alone out in front and the three of them had a fairly good tussle – but something had to give and luckily he was the one that came out on top.
“I was quietly confident going into the race and when he got to the front I thought he would be able to hold on, which he managed to do which was great.”
Gotta Get Back has been a terrific dog with his latest victory taking his career record to 20 wins and nine minor placings from 36 career starts, with over $76,000 in prize money earnings.
McClellend says the dog had shown ability from the time he joined his kennel at the start of 2015.
“He is a very consistent dog.
“Peter Dooner from Wagga owns him and he has a lot of young dogs. He usually tries them out up in the Wagga area and runs them through their grades.
“After that if they have ability he sends them down to me and I try them in Victoria.
“When I got this bloke he was a ready made dog – he has been a natural with everything I have done with him.”
McClellend told Australian Racing Greyhound he was unsure of where to go to next with Gotta Get Back, with a start in the upcoming Group 1 Australian Cup series at The Meadows very unlikely.
“He has been all around Victoria. He has been to Warrnambool a couple of times which is a 13 hour round trip, we have been to Warragul which is 10 hours, Geelong, Ballarat – so he is pretty well travelled.
“Unfortunately, most of the Country Cups which are run over a suitable distance for him have already been run so I am not too sure about what's next.
“I think the Australian Cup is probably a bit beyond him because he is really only a 450m dog, but in the near future we will give him a trial around The Meadows and just see how he handles it.
“I don't want to push him too hard if he can't run that far.”
Watch Gotta Get Back (4) scoring a tough win.