Peaky Boo’s transformation: Underdog to Launching Pad contender
In a twist of events Peaky Boo, a greyhound initially overlooked for his performances, has now emerged as a strong contender, in the prestigious Launching Pad series on Thursday night at Sandown.
His journey from an underdog to a title contender reflects the belief and intuition of his owner, Ben Rawlings, and the skills of renowned trainer Steve Withers.
Withers, who previously guided Tommy Shelby to success, reassured Rawlings about Peaky Boo's potential despite his struggles.
Rawlings, supported by his father Neil and a knit group of friends, set out to acquire a top-tier greyhound and turned to Withers for guidance.
Although there were doubts after assessing Peaky Boo's form, Rawlings trusted Withers judgment.
This decision proved wise as Peaky Boo displayed his talent by winning five out of his seven races and achieving an impressive record of six victories in 11 races overall.
Peaky Boos path to the Launching Pad final was marked by triumphs.
He secured his spot in the series by excelling in the SA qualifying event.
Impressed, with a heat win clocking at 29.51 seconds.
While he narrowly missed place in the semi-final to Cruising Debbie, his strong performance showcased his potential.
2024 Launching Pad Final Box Draw And Field
2024 Launching Pad Final Box Draw & FieldAlbion Park515mGroup 3$150,000 to-the-winnerThursday March 28 2024
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1 Peaky Boo
T: Ben RawlingsF: 1112Career: 11: 6-1-1Prizemoney: $29,970
+500
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2 Lakeview Emily
+115
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3 Mepunga Reward
T: Jeffrey BrittonF: 3511Career: 12: 7-2-2Prizemoney: $66,105
+300
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4 Cruising Debbie
+1200
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5 On High Alert
T: Karen PittF: 3122Career: 8: 5-2-1Prizemoney: $17,125
+1000
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6 Humidity
T: Ashley TerryF: 1131Career: 11: 7-1-2Prizemoney: $31,510
+700
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7 Zipping Hopkins
+1300
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8 I'm A Mustang
T: Matthew LaniganF: 1132Career: 13: 3-4-2Prizemoney: $42,949
+1800
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| Reserves | |
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9 Zelda Chaos
T: Thomas DaillyF: 2223Career: 29: 6-5-2Prizemoney: $42,455
+1300
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10 Ethanol Volume
T: Thomas DaillyF: 6143Career: 27: 6-5-4Prizemoney: $46,010
+750
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Throughout the series, Peaky Boo has been fortunate, with his starting positions securing spots in positions one and two in the heat and semi-final races.
This luck continued as he again got the sought-after rail position for the final race, positioning him as one of the top contenders with odds set at $6 with the top greyhound bookmakers.
Rawlings understands the importance of these starting positions, noting that they give Peaky Boo a chance to compete against competitors in the series.
While mindful of the greyhounds in the competition, Rawlings remains hopeful about their chances of finishing on the podium, a significant achievement for both Peaky Boo and himself.
Peaky Boos impressive trial times, such as his 29.50-second run at Sandown and a solid second-place finish in the semi-final with a time of 29.57 seconds, demonstrate his potential for performances.
Rawlings is confident that, with a path and familiarity with the track, Peaky Boo can achieve times in the mid 29.30s range, putting him in contention for victory.
While the Galaxy is known as a Group 1 event, Rawlings recognises the importance of triumphing in a race on a grand stage like Melbourne.
As the race approaches, all attention will be on Peaky Boo, once disregarded but now standing as a contender for victory.