Blistering start sets up 2022 Ballarat Cup win for Compliance
A near perfect start at box-rise and a personal best first section setup the win for Compliance in last night's Group 2 Ballarat Cup (450m).
The veteran of just 17 race starts has now banked just over $131,000 taking home the $50,000-to-the-winner prize with a 24.87 all the way best-of-night effort.
The Karen Pitt-trained son of Black Magic Opal and Flowing doesn't turn three-years-of-age until late November 2022, but has now won a Group 2, finsihed second in the Group 1 Silver Chief and was a 2022 Shepparton Cup finalist.
Compliance won his heat last week in 25.11 but was drawn in box six to race outside a hot speed from near record winner Mr Audacious (3) and Robbie Rotten (4) drawn to his inside.
That changed dramatically when race favourite with greyhound bookmakers Mr Audacious was sensationally scratched after injuring a toe in a free gallop.
The injury will mean Mr Audacious will miss the Group 2 Geelong Cup heats Good Friday, but trainer Rachael Busuttil is confident the boom youngster will be ready for the Group 2 Warrnambool Cup heats on April 28.
But Compliance's blistering 6.40 first section in last night's final was the telling factor in the race. Improving his first section personal best at the Ballarat greyhound track one length on his heat win last week, and taking 0.23 seconds off his previous best time of 25.10 to win in 24.87.
As it turns out, only Mr Audacious would have had a chance of making a race of it with Compliance based on his 6.42 first section in last week's heats.
Compliance won easily from 2020 Ballarat Cup winner Yozo Bale by 5.87 lengths, with 2022 Shepparton Cup winner Substantial finishing third 0.02 lengths off second.
Greyhound trainer Karen Pitt was is awe of her Amanda Tullio owned greyhound.
“He's just a baby
“We just hoped he could clear them but never in my wildest dreams did I think he would be off and gone like that.
“All I wanted to see was his bum getting across because I knew he'd be charging across.
“I thought as long as he didn't get hit and found the rail… and he did that and everything else was him.”
Compliance has now won 10 races from 17 starts with a further three placings, which have all been seconds.