Ritza Piper causes upset in Group 1 Topgun Stayers
Ritza Piper surprised everyone with Saturday night's triumph in the 2023 Group 1 Sportsbet Topgun Stayers (730m) race at The Meadows.
Trained in NSW by Joe Scerri, Ritza Piper's preparation for the Topgun Stayers race was handed over to caretaker trainer Paul Bartolo.
The decision to send Ritza Piper 5 weeks ago to prepare for the Group 1 race paid off in spades, with the NSW bitch joining Blue Moon Rising as the only NSW winners of the race since its inception in 2015.
Punters were on the floor post-race after sending out Ritza Piper as the second roughest chance in the race, paying +2000 with greyhound bookmakers.
At box-rise, the longest-priced greyhound in the race, Korda (+2530), took up the lead and tore away from the bunched field.
Ritza Piper was left to do all the chasing after settling in second place by the winning post the first time around.
In the run to the line, Ritza Piper took every advantage to collar the tiring Korda on the home turn, and turn her rails run in to a race winning 2.06 lengths winning margin in 42.66.
Moraine Suzie (+670) ran home well for second, while fellow NSW stayer Palawa King found the line hard for third.
2023 Group 1 Topgun Stayers – Ritza Piper (42.66) T: Joe Scerri
Ritza Piper's win represents her first Group 1 win, with her only other group race win coming in the 2023 Group 2 Summer Distance Plate at Wentworth Park in January.
The daughter of Ritza Lenny and Ritza Vonnie finished runner-up behind Zipping Vanessa in the 2023 Group 2 Sydney Cup at Wentworth Park a month ago.
Caretaker trainer Paul Bartolo explained that Ritza Piper had been in his care since the Sydney Cup and that he and wife Diane had been giving the visitor extra special attention.
“Really wrapped for Joe, a great result,” Bartolo said.
“I've had her for about four weeks, and she's been trialing really well, but I didn't know a lot about her, to be honest.
“My only instructions were to spoil her because apparently she is at home.
“So Di has been out with her, rubbing her stomach and treating her like a pet as much as a race dog.
“And it's worked.
“I'm just really happy for Joe.
“He's a terrific young kid,” said Bartolo.
This upset victory marked Ritza Piper's 15th win from 40 starts, while recording a further 12 placings.
She has now earned $241,030 in prizemoney for connections.
Bartolo said Ritza Piper would now most likely stay in his kennel and target the 2023 Group 1 Bold Trease heats on November 25 at Sandown.