Dark Fate, Flash Attic star for Kempshall kennel at Grafton
Dark Fate returned to the track after a three-week break and bounced back into the winner's circle at Grafton on Tuesday night.
Stepping up to free-for-all class, the Sonia Kempshall-trained chaser lined up in the 350m contest as a +400 chance with top online bookmakers.
Jumping from box eight, she gave the field something to chase and led all the way to beat +2500 outsider Laurie's Delight by one-and-three-quarter lengths in a clean 20 seconds, with Integrity Keith (+280) finishing in third.
Grafton R7 replay – Dark Fate (20.00) – T: Sonia Kempshall
Prior to her third-place finish last time out in the Laurie Arnott Masters Final on September 30, Dark Fate had notched up four straight wins – three at the Grafton 350m and one at the 300m Casino trip.
The daughter of Premier Fantasy and Back To Business has now saluted 26 times with 41 minor placings from 102 starts, banking $63,240 in prize money for connections.
The Kempshall kennel recorded a winning double on the 10-race card, with Flash Attic notching her second victory in her 30th career start.
Jumping from the pink box as an +700 hope in the 350m fifth-grade race, she sat close to the back of the field before sweeping wide to sit third behind leader Zulu Rufus (+7000) on the turn.
Race favourite She Is Fire (+180) had the lead going into the straight, but Flash Attic stormed over the top to win by one-and-a-half lengths in 20.29.
Grafton R3 replay – Flash Attic (20.29) – T: Sonia Kempshall
Flash Attic's only previous win came on April 9 when saluting by the same margin at the same track and trip.
The Fernando Blaster x Pirate's Cut bitch will now step up in trip, as her owner-trainer Kempshall told Australian Racing Greyhound.
“She's starting to hit her straps,” she said.
“She needs a bit more ground.”