“The Only Certainty In Racing Is Uncertainty” – Gary Sutton
“The only certainty in racing is the uncertainty”, said NWGRC Chairman Gary Sutton when he presented the connections of smart chaser Cruising Bond with the Betfair Breeders Classic Final trophy on Tuesday afternoon.
He was no doubt referring to the raging hot favourite for the event, the previously unbeaten She's All Class, which missed the start for the first time and then ran into bother in transit, before finishing a distant last.
This paved the way for the Gary Johnson prepared Cruising Bond, the logical second pick, to win the prestigious event, but not before receiving stern opposition from the place getters Technology and Frytson.
The bitch prevailed in a spine tingling finish, recording a slick 25.93 for the 452 metre journey and paying what was a remarkable dividend of $9 for the win.
Raced by veteran Hobart owner Basil Brimfield, Cruising Bond has now won five of 13 lifetime outings including her last four in succession and appears likely to make a name for herself in the future.
Bridgewater trainer Kevin Cocks applied the early polish to Cruising Bond but then elected to send her North to the Johnson complex, within striking distance of the Devonport Raceway.
“Gary will keep her until she contests the Gold Collar in Launceston and then she will be returning to me,” Cocks explained.
Cocks, a veteran of forty years in the sport, prepared Royal Overture to win the Gold Collar several years ago and ran second with Our Jana in the Breeders Classic Final.
He has been involved with owner Brimfield, a former Public Service Arbitrator, for many years, the pair having enjoyed their fair share of success.
They purchased Cruising Bond's dam Cruisin' Mcqueen, a daughter of Collision and the winner of ten races, and bred her to Bond, but only Cruising Bond remains from that mating and the bitch is now deceased.
Basil Brimfield, now 85-years of age, has been involved with both greyhound and horse racing for his entire life and has derived a great deal of pleasure from them.
Unfortunately his memory is fading and he cannot recall the names of many of his greyhounds or horses, however Cliff Roamer, the winner of the 1973 Arthur Morgan Stakes and a TCA track record holder, is one that immediately comes to mind.
“I believe that Cruising Bond is one of the quickest beginners that I have had the pleasure of racing – only Cliff Roamer could compete with her in that regard,” he explained.
“I have won many races in my day, but never a Hobart Thousand and I am hoping that one day she may provide me with that pleasure.”
Meanwhile Devonport Raceway track specialist Rewind continued on his winning way at Tuesday's NWGRC meeting by winning the Devonport Show Cup (452 metres) in brilliant fashion.
The Maurie Strickland owned and prepared chaser defeated Ready To Rock and Pendle Beri by three lengths, recording a time of 25.91 and paying a win dividend of $1.40.
The son of Collide has now won 45 of 73 lifetime outings while taking stakes of in excess of $175,000, 15 of those victories including the 2012 Devonport Cup having been achieved at Tuesday's venue.