Cawbourne Magic set for Group test after Newcastle Cup win
Cawbourne Magic showed his Group credentials last Friday night with a comfortable four-length victory in the Newcastle Cup Final over 715m at The Gardens.
The talented two-year-old from the Andy and Jodie Lord kennels turned the tables on Stagger Out Lee following a runner-up effort in the Bold Trease Final on November 26, saluting in 41.55 seconds.
Cawbourne Magic crossed the line in 41.82 seconds in the Sandown feature worth $150,000.
But the Lords' handler Paul Mills said many greyhound fans did not realise the developing white-and-black dog was impeded that night.
At full health on Friday night, Cawbourne Magic showed his true potential in his 40th start, bringing up his 16th win.
2022 Newcastle Cup Final replay – Cawbourne Magic (1st)
“In Melbourne a couple of things went wrong,” Mills told Australian Racing Greyhound.
“He cramped up severely. I believe it cost him the race.
“A lot of people don't understand how badly he cramped up.
“That's racing – these things happen.
“(Friday) night he showed his talent.”
Cawbourne Magic has now won seven of his past eight starts, and Mills said he was now living up to his potential.
“He's always shown it. It was just a matter of him coming of age,” he said.
“He's only a very young dog and he's never been in Group races before.
“He's matured and racing like he's more than up to Group race dogs.
“Look at his form – he got second to a good stayer (in the Bold Trease), and he cramped severely.”
With this kind of form, Cawbourne Magic will be tough to beat in the Group 3 Ladbrokes Christmas Cheer over 720m at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
After that, the Lords have aimed him at the Gold Cup Final over 710m at Albion Park on February 2, also at Group 3 level.
“He's in the special event (Christmas Cheer on Saturday night) – he's drawn box eight,” Mills said.
“Andy was saying he'll probably go to Brisbane.
“He'll probably chase the big races because he's shown he's more than up to it.
“He's come of age.”
Meanwhile, Mills was pleased with Coast Model's runner-up effort to Jason Magri's Zipping Novak in the Ladbrokes Christmas Gift Heat 1 at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
The three-year-old crossed the line in 29.68 seconds in the 520m event, behind Zipping Novak's impressive 29.54-second effort.
“Zipping Novak is a very smart dog and he got straight to her. But she was good,” Mills said.
Coast Model will find the going tough in the final, not drawing an ideal box.
“She will (be competitive), but box seven is a bit hard for her,” Mills said.
“She's got to clear them and get to the fence.
“The other bitch drew a bit better in the red, (kennelmate) Good Odds Emma.
“She'll probably be the one to beat. But it's just a bad draw like the Dapto Megastar – she drew the eight (finishing sixth, with Good Odds Emma winning in 29.75 seconds).
“She's only a tiny girl – she's only 25kg.”
Simply Limelight won the Christmas Gift Heat 2 for Peter Rodgers, the talented two-year-old saluting in a time of 29.83 seconds.