Cosmic Rumble Storms Home To Australia’s Richest Prize

Master Victorian trainer Darren McDonald described his victory in Australia's richest ever greyhound race a career highlight after the fast-finishing landed connections $250,000 in the Group One .

Looking a forlorn chance after a slow beginning, Cosmic Rumble produced his trademark flashing finish to overhaul fellow Victorian Banger Harvey in the final strides.

McDonald becomes the first to prepare two Golden Easter Egg winners after his tremedous sprinter Brett Lee won the 2001 edition.

Race favourite was only moderately out of her two alley gifting rails hopeful Banger Harvey a clear run to the first bend. Robert Birtton's son of held that cushion through the back straight and into the home bend before Cosmic Rumble wound up and dashed down the outside with the post lurking.

For a trainer who was won every major feature race in Australia, McDonald gave a ringing endorsement for this year's Macro Meats Golden Easter Egg.

“They're all highlights, but to win the first race worth this sort of money it is an unbelievable feeling,” McDonald said. “Four or five years ago if someone said a greyhound race would be worth this sort of money I would have said ‘you're kidding'.

“When he blew the start I thought ‘that's it, it's all over'. Then when I looked down the back I was thinking who was in front and maybe he could catch him.

“Then he really put the big strides in and he kept coming – it was a tremendous effort from the dog.”

Owner Steve Kavanagh was also understandably overjoyed his long and frutiful partnership with McDonald had reaped the ultimate reward.

“He's a gun trainer and he has been for a long time,” Kavanagh said. “He's a good friend of mine and to win this together is fantastic.”

NSW star Fancy Mandy, who came within a length of Queen Lauryn's Wentworth Park 520m track record, found the line strongly for third.

After the placed runners the field finished in the following order 4th Ruff It ($6.50), 5th Proven Jett ($23.70), 6th Bogie Bomber ($48.10) 7th Full Blast ($43.20) and High Earner ($5.20).

Cosmic Rumble is raced by Steve Kavanagh and is trained by Darren McDonald at Devon Meadows in Victoria. By Spiral Nikita form Kavanagh‟s brood bitch Spiritual Rumble (Brett Lee x Rumble Spirit).

He is a Black Dog whelped April 2007 he has won 22 of his 43 starts and has been placed on ten occasions and with the $250,000 first prize for the Golden Easter Egg it took his current stake earnings to $321,305.

below is the Golden Easter Egg honour roll it has been won by some superstar sprinters over the years including five Hall of Famers. First conducted in 1990 when won by the Jim Coleman trained the race quickly took pride of place in the Harbour city. It is one of most sought after on the AGRA Group racing calendar and each year attracts the best sprinters racing in the country, all vying for not only the outstanding first prize but also the glory and their place in history as winners of the Egg.

Group 1 Golden Easter Egg Honour Roll

  • 1990 Ultra Sense C M Coleman
  • 1991 L Ferremi
  • 1992 Jessica Casey J Finn
  • 1993 Billy Binjang P Seymour
  • 1994 Mancunian Girl P S Wardle
  • 1995 Malawi Law G Bate
  • 1996 Tenthill Doll H P Sarkis
  • 1997 Bahama Image W McNally
  • 1998 Rapid Journey J Carruthers
  • 1999 Faithful Hawk P Rayner
  • 2000 Stately Bird K Paull
  • 2001 Brett Lee D McDonald
  • 2002 Carlisle Jack R Douglas
  • 2003 Cyrus The Virus S Swain
  • 2004 Bogie Leigh T Brett
  • 2005 Paua To Burn S White
  • 2006 Edie Beauchamp M Wright
  • 2007 Slater D Murray
  • 2008 M Burdekin
  • 2009 R McDonald
  • 2010 Cosmic Rumble D McDonald
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments