Jess Hopkins trains Alfie Moon to win 2023 Group 3 The Lizrene at Sandown
All Victorian greyhound trainer Jess Hopkins’ pre-race wishes came to fruition last night at Sandown when her greyhound Alfie Moon led throughout to win the $15,000 to-the-winner Group 3 The Lizrene over 715m.
Prior to the race Hopkins spoke of her aspiration to walk in the footsteps of her esteemed late grandfather, George Rose, who had the honour of being a group race winning trainer.
After Friday night’s running of the Group 3 The Lizrene, Jess can now call herself a group race winning trainer like her ‘Pop’.
Rose’s shining moment came in 1996 when Wylie Boy clinched the Group 1 Topgun at The Meadows, and was subsequently named the 1996 Victorian Greyhound of the Year.
The Lizrene might be a few rungs under a group 1 Topgun win, but Hopkins can feel justifiably proud of her Group 3 trainers win – a great many trainers never win a group race at all.
The win is a testament to the affable Hopkins who with the help of her grandmother, Valda, and mother, Sheree, has established herself as trainer of note in her own right.
Alfie Moon wasn’t the best to begin, but drove hard along the rail early to claim the lead and gave nothing else a chance, despite a determined effort from Palawa King mid to late race.
The effort of Alfie Moon was all the more meritorious when you consider his winning time of 41.86 was only 0.5 of a length slower than the $175,000 to-the-winner Group 1 Sandown Cup winning time of Korda.
2023 Group 3 The Lizrene (Sandown, 715m) – Alfie Moon (41.86) T: Jess Hopkins
Alfie Moon, from the January 2020 Fernando Bale x Psychotic Gold litter, is owned by Petar Jovanovic, a three-time Group 1 National Sprint Championship winning trainer, and his partner, Lesley Sermon.
Alfie Moon has now started 49 times for 10 wins, 16 seconds and eight thirds, earning a grand total of $99,450 in prize money.
2023 Group 3 The Lizrene
2023 The Lizrene ResultsSandown Park715mGroup 3$15,000 to-the-winnerFriday May 26 202341.86
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|
| 1st |
1 Alfie Moon
T: Jess Hopkins41.86 – $15,000
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| 2nd | |
| 3rd |
3 Palawa King
T: Ray Smith42.022.25 lengths $2,000
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| 4th | |
| 5th |
2 Hummock
T: Clint Capuano42.255.75 lengths
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| 6th |
4 Silver Luck
T: Andy Lord42.448.25 lengths
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| 7th |
5 Stella Girl
T: Clint Capuano42.509.25 lengths
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| 8th |
7 Shanlyn Hunter
T: Terry Reid42.6711.75 lengths
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