$21 shot Trooper Tears wins 2024 Sale Cup for Robert Britton
Trooper Tears delivered a dominant performance to claim the 2024 Sale Cup, cementing his place among greyhound racing’s elite.
Jumping from box five, the Robert Britton-trained black dog clocked a stunning 36.23 seconds over the 640m journey, holding off a late charge from Black Silencer to secure the $75,000 winner’s cheque by two lengths at a stunning $21 odds with the top greyhound bookmakers.
2024 Sale Cup Race Replay – Trooper Tears (36.23)
It was a significant achievement for owner John Hutchison and marked Trooper Tears’ second Group-level triumph, following his 2023 victory in the Launching Pad.
The victory capped an incredible journey for the son of Goodesy and Freaky Tears. Once a rising star with 10 wins and five seconds in his first 15 starts, Trooper Tears faced a challenging period plagued by injuries and inconsistency, winning just four of his next 24 starts. However, his resilience and brilliance shone through as he returned to peak form during the Sale Cup series.
The race unfolded in dramatic fashion. Trooper Tears recovered from an early bump with Zipping Kai to take control of the race, exploiting trouble faced by Picklebet favourite Canya All Class at the first turn. By the halfway mark, he had established a commanding lead, and despite Black Silencer’s late surge, Trooper Tears was never seriously threatened.
The Britton family’s legacy at the Sale Cup continues to grow, with this victory marking Robert Britton’s second triumph in the event, following Symmetry’s win in 2010. The Britton family’s Sale Cup dominance extends back to 1997, with wins by Robert’s brother Jeff (Star Recall, 2014) and father Alan (Shannen’s Storm, 1997).
The night also saw remarkable performances across the program. Canya All Class’s 640m track record, set during the heats, narrowly survived, with Trooper Tears finishing just half a length shy.
However, other records tumbled as Nangar Jim lowered the 510m benchmark for the third consecutive week, clocking a blistering 28.223 seconds. Meanwhile, Boracay Storm set a new 435m record, eclipsing Short Straw Trev’s earlier mark on a night of electrifying racing.
Sale Cup 2024 Results – Sale
2024 Sale Cup ResultsSale 640m Group 1 $75,000 to-the-winner Thursday, December 26, 2024
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| 1st |
5 Trooper Tears
T: Robert BrittonTime: 36.23Margin:
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| 2nd |
3 Black Silencer
T: Kerrie WhiteTime: 36.37Margin: 2 Lengths
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| 3rd | |
| 4th |
8 Groovebird
T: Jeffrey BrittonTime: 36.63Margin: 6 Lengths
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| 5th |
2 Succeed
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| 6th |
1 Canya All Class
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| 7th |
6 Raya Star
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| 8th |
4 Zipping Kai
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