Cranbourne Cup the potential target for Aston Dee Bee
CHAMPION sprinter Aston Dee Bee (Barcia Bale x Aston Elle Apr ’15) took his prize money earnings beyond $760,000 on Saturday night when he scored a dominant victory in the Group 2 Warragul Cup (460m).
Jumping from box five, Seona Thompson‘s speed machine settled in third spot behind his litter sister Aston Miley and multiple group finalist Kouta Mayhem (Fabregas x Belle’s Melody Feb ’15).
Swinging for home Aston Dee Bee hooked to the outside and powered down the centre of the track, capturing the lead and charging clear to defeat the fast-finishing Jimmy Newob (Cosmic Rumble x Nosey Rosey May ’15) by just over two and one quarter lengths in 25.53.
Aston Dee Bee has now won nine races in a row including the Group 1 Melbourne Cup, the Group 2 Ballarat Cup and the Group 3 Shootout.
Thompson was elated with the win – the first Warragul Cup trophy for her and her husband Jason.
“I am very excited to win the Warragul Cup; we have tried on many occasions but that was our first one,” Thompson said.
“They were moving down on him a little bit and I could see him being sandwiched. [But] he is very smart – he is racing with his head – so once he switched to the outside I knew he’d be coming home very strongly.”
Thompson said Aston Dee Bee has matured over the past couple of months since breaking through for his first group race win in the Melbourne Cup – the world’s richest greyhound racing.
However, Thompson explained the winner of 33 from 54 has always shown immense ability.
“We don’t pre-train a lot of dogs – we generally even send our own off to be pre-trained – but he showed a lot at breaking in.
“We chose to keep him and he showed plenty [of ability] and he was running scintillating first splits – comparable to El Galo times – he was something special from day one.
“When he first started racing it took him a while to put it all together. It took until he was a little bit older for the penny to drop and for his confidence to grow and now he has turned into the ultimate professional.
“That’s the only way I can describe him – I just think he is a true, professional champion.”
Owned by Ray Borda, Aston Dee Bee is expected to race again before the invitation-only group 1 Temlee on February 17, however Thompson said a campaign isn’t set in stone.
“I’m still looking at the Cranbourne Cup for him, but with a few other dogs in the kennel I have got to try and separate them a little bit,” she said.
“He will race again before [The Temlee and the Australian Cup at] The Meadows, but I will have to sit down and work out his program.”