Good Odds Cash breaks 16 year drought for bitches winning Maitland Gold Cup
It took a race record to make it happen but the Frank and Tracey Hurst-trained Good Odds Cash last night won the 2022 Maitland Gold Cup becoming the first bitch to win the race since Needa Mint in 2006.
Starting from box four, the daughter of Collision and Nino De Oro won the $40,000 to the winner Group 2 final by 2.25 lengths in 24.85; beating home the Jason Mackay-trained pair of Our Mechanic and greyhound betting sites favourite, Zipping Lopez.
Early leader Mitchell Street (3) led for half the race setting up the quick time running a 7.72 early section, but wilted under the pressure from Good Odds Cash to finish fifth nearly six lengths from the winner.
Frank Hurst speaking after the race said he was confident the race shape would give Good Odds Cash an opportunity to win the race.
“It sorta (sic) panned out the way I thought it would”, he said.
“Everyone knew the three would lead, cos (sic) it has blistering speed, but I thought if this bitch could sort of happen to sit on her, she'd be a chance of running her down and it panned out that way.”
The win was satisfying for husband and wife training team of Frank and Tracey Hurst as they bought the dog as a pup at three months of age, and reared and broke her in. “It's been a long haul but it's worth it now” said Frank.
Despite the fact that is was just her first group race final in 34 starts, Hurst says that his 27kg black bitch has bigger races ahead of her.
“She's a Million Dollar Chase dog – that's how good she is”, he said following the win.
“She'd already qualified through winning “The Nationals” at Dapto which places her straight in the the semi's (of the Million Dollar Chase).
“There is a race before that though and that's the Golden Easter Egg and she'll be there Saturday night.
Hurst offered some explanation as to why Good Odds Cash was able to do what no other bitch had done for 16 years by winning the final, saying “She don't know she's a bitch – she think she's a smart dog; and so do I”.