Here Comes Milli wins 2024 Group 1 Sapphire Crown at Sandown
Here Comes Milli provided breeder and trainer Des Douch with his crowning glory by taking out the 2024 Group 1 Sapphire Crown final at Sandown on Thursday night, May 16.
Maffra-based trainer Douch, only became involved in greyhounds when a bad car accident 14 years ago meant he could no longer ride trackwork.
“I was involved in racehorses, Thoroughbreds. The whole family trained horses all their lives.
“I trained them with my brothers for over 20 years.
“I had a bad car accident, busted up my ankles, and broke my back.
“I couldn't ride track work anymore, so I gave the horses away and took up dogs,” Douch explained.
Greyhound success is nothing new to Douch having been involved with Group 1 placed, Big Flood, very early on in his greyhound ventures.
“The first good one was Big Flood, a really good dog.
“He made group one finals, placed in the Easter Egg in Sydney, and made the Australian Cup Final.
“He won a lot of Country Cup finals and close to $200,000 in prizemoney.
“He was fantastic for us,” Douch recalled.
Big Flood's litter sister, Brueghelino, also made her mark.
“Brueghelino also made Group 1 finals, but her real success has been in breeding,” Douch said.
It is therefore quite fitting that Here Comes Milli could provide Douch and owner Greg Rowe with their first Group 1 win, as she is the daughter of Brueghelino, completing a circle back to Douch and Rowe's first foray into greyhound involvement over a decade ago.
Rowe's association with Douch goes back over 20 years, and the pair have owned many greyhounds and thoroughbreds together over that time.
“I've known (Rowe) for about 20 years.
“We've got about eight to ten dogs between us and shares in four racehorses.
“He's a good friend who stuck by me the whole time,” Douch stated.
Here Comes Milli qualified for the $100,000 to-the-winner Sapphire Crown final by finishing second to Aunt Virginia in last week's heats.
Greyhound punters and online betting sites were keen about the chances of Here Comes Milli winning the Group 1 final from box six, sending her to the boxes as the +500 third favourite behind Cruising Debbie (+200) and Magic Muffin (+270).
At box-rise that confidence was rewarded when the daughter of Bernardo speared to the font to take control of the race before the winning post the first time.
With Cruising Debbie right on her heels through the first corner, Here Comes Milli was able to get a valuable three length break on the home corner, just as Granny Roses threatened run on into the finish.
Here Comes Milli had a race-winning break though, going on to beat Granny Roses by 1.2 lengths in 29.39.
Crusing Debbie held on for third, a further 1.96 lengths away.
2024 Group 1 Sapphire Crown – Here Comes Milli (29.39) T: Des Douch
Here Comes Milli has now had 35 starts for 12 wins and 12 placings.
The 27-kg black bitch has is now a Group 1 winner, having previously been unplaced in the 2023 Group 2 Laurels Classic, and the 2023 Group 3 Cup Night Sprint, both at Sandown.
Here Comes Milli has really developed into a Sandown track specialist, having now had 14 starts there over 515 metres, for six wins and three placings.
Reflecting on Millie's progression, Douch notes, “When Millie first started, she broke in okay.
“The breaker and the pre-trainer said she went okay but kept getting better.”
That improving type has now won $172,495 in prizemoney for Douch and Rowe, and can now lay claim to the same Group 1 title held in recent years by Wow She's Fast and Baby Jaycee.
2024 Group 1 Sapphire Crown
2024 Sapphire Crown Results Sandown 515m Group 1 $100,000 to-the-winner Thursday, May 16, 2024 29.39
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|
| 1st |
6 Here Comes Milli
T: Des Douch 29.39 – $100,000 +500
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| 2nd |
2 Granny Roses
T: Sharon-Lee Chignell 29.48 1.2 lengths $30,000 +1780
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| 3rd |
1 Cruising Debbie
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| 4th |
5 Lakeview Emily
T: Harry Whelan 29.66 3.74 lengths $7,500 +680
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| 5th |
3 Groovebird
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| 6th |
7 Aunt Virginia
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| 7th |
8 Desired Path
T: Dylan Sharp 29.98 8.43 lengths +4670
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| 8th |
4 Magic Muffin
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