Nicola Rose overcomes horrible start to win again at Gawler
Former Victorian and now local South Australian greyhound Nicola Rose has locked up the title of “Run Of The Month” with a day to go for September.
Despite the pedestrian race record of just three wins from 37 race starts, the Des Hockley-trained bitch performed well above expectations to win a Gawler 531m race from a ‘stone motherless' position, six lengths behind the second last dog.
Nicola Rose, who joined Hockley's kennels just 10 starts ago, has now won three of her career races at Gawler, and run a further four placings for the Lewiston trainer.
Formerly trained by Sharon-Lee Chignell in Victoria, Nicola Rose took 16 starts to win her maiden, and did not add another Victorian victory in a further 11 starts.
Hockley seems to have found the key to the 29kg fawn and white bitch based on her amazing win at Gawler on Friday.
Coming in to the race having won three of her past four starts, greyhound punters backed Nicola Rose in to +150 favourite on greyhound betting apps despite her overall race record.
But when the lids went up for Race 9 at Gawler on Friday, Nicola Rose went up with them, missing the start hopelessly.
The punter's elect was in danger of not catching the second last dog in the race.
Not a single person was entertaining the notion that their favourite bet was anything but confetti.
What transpired next had to be seen to be believed.
Nicola Rose balanced herself and stepped away from the boxes six to seven lengths behind the second last dog, and at least 10 lengths from the leader.
Choosing rails runs, she worked her way back into the field and then proceeded to make her way to third before the home corner.
Passing the middle distance boxes, Nicola Rose was still eight lengths off leader Unholy Reign, who looked to have the race in the bag.
But Nicola Rose would not be denied, she maintained the determined run and picked up the leader near the post before pulling away to win by 1.25 lengths in 30.88, which was remarkably not that far behind the 30.69 best of the day.
Gawler 6th Grade 531m Sept. 29, 2023 – Nicola Rose (30.88) T: Des Hockley
With just one day left in September 2023, it's very unlikely Nicola Rose's herculean effort will be surpassed to qualify her for the Run Of The Month.
By Fernando Bale out of Dash Of Rose, Nicola Rose has now had 38 starts for four wins, and 19 placings, but she seems to have found her track at Gawler.
She has earned connections $16,615 in prizemoney across those 38 starts, but with the way she has improved under Hockley's care, there is no doubt those career earnings will rapidly increase.
From Dash Of Rose's fourth 2020 litter to Fernando Bale, Nicola Rose is a litter sister to Group 1 Harrison Dawson finalist Fred Rose.