Mantra Lad Australian Greyhound Of The Month In May
AGRA's Greyhound of the Month for May 2009 is New South Wales owned Victorian trained staying star Mantra Lad.
The reigning National Distance Champion made a one act affair of the Group 1 Sandown Cup to highlight a brilliant month of racing for the versatile chaser. After racing below his best in the lead up to the cup he put it all together in the series and stamped himself as the best stayer in the country.
Mantra Lad kicked off the month on May 7 with an impressive win in his heat of the Sandown Cup jumping straight to the front he recorded the fastest time of the heat winners a blistering 41.99.
Returning for the final Mantra Lad started favourite at $2.20 from box eight, however he began only fairly after Sirocco Hero flew the boxes to lead through the first turn. ‘Chad' soon swept up to the early leader in the straight the first time, took the lead exiting the home straight and accelerated away to emphatically win in the nation's premier staying race.
While Mantra Lad's run was two tenths of a second off Total Denial's long standing track record, his winning time of 42.00 smashed the previous race record (42.12, Total Denial), and equaled the record winning margin of 9.5 lengths.
Mantra Lad then headed for Albion Park and the Group 1 Gold Cup, in another tradesman like performance he recorded the fastest heat win of 41.78.
Mantra Lad is raced by the Martin & Fiona Hallinan he is a Red Fawn dog whelped July 2006 by Pure
Octane from Al Fresco (Royal Pilgrim x Prize Dancer). Mantra Lad has won 16 of his 37 starts and has
been placed on 11 occasions and his current stake earnings stand at $281,410.
In a another competitive month Mantra Lad edged out Group one winner Aston Trivett and Group two
winners, High Earner, Starfire Havoc, Hanify's Impact and Bordain for the monthly award.
AGRA congratulates owners Martin & Fiona Hallinan, trainer Graeme Jose and Mantra Lad on being
awarded the AGRA May Greyhound of the Month. He joins Dana Beatrice, Miss Slick, Gunnadoo Magic and Velocette as the AGRA Greyhound of the Month winners in 2009.