Vamoose flying the flag for Grafton in The Thunderbolt
The stage is set for the world's richest short-course race, The Thunderbolt, with Grafton sprint star Vamoose ready to take on some quality dashers on his home deck this Saturday night.
The semi-finals held on Sunday saw four great winners in Speeding Final ($3.80), Johnny Red ($6), Running Reds ($19), and Vamoose ($1.60) who will now contest the $75,000-to-the-winner final over 350m.
Chasers stamped their tickets into the semi-finals through heats held at Wagga, Bulli, Gosford, Taree, Goulburn, Richmond, Dubbo, and Grafton.
Dynamic training duo Susan Smith and John Miles prepare Vamoose and Johnny Red, with the latter running the best time of the semi-finals in 19.89.
Even more impressive was the top time was run on the Hooked On Scotch x Agnetha chaser's first look at the track, let alone the distance, after winning his heat at Richmond.
The Thunderbolt Semi Final 2 replay
Winner: Johnny Red (19.89)
He will come out of box one in the feature, relishing the inside start throughout his career (52:29-5-8).
Vamoose has run the Grafton 350m nine times now with six wins, one of those occasions being the heat that stamped his spot for the final.
The Thunderbolt Semi Final 4 replay
Winner: Vamoose (20.23)
The Fernando Bale x Blue Thunda dog will jump from box two, on the outside of his kennelmate.
The field also includes Custard Monelli, trained by David Hobby, who is the highest earner from the field with $120,410 in prize money and a career (34:10-9-9) that includes third-placings in the Group 2 Western Australia Derby and Group 1 Golden Easter Egg Final.
Saturday's running will be the second edition of The Thunderbolt, with the Robert Andrews-trained Integrity Mate edging out Orson Laurie in a hotly contested final last year.
The Thunderbolt Final Box Draw & FieldGrafton350m$75,000 to the winnerSaturday, June 24, 2023
|
|
 |
1 Johnny Red
T: John MilesF: 1511Career: 26: 12-4-2
|
 |
2 Vamoose
T: Susan SmithF: 1511Career: 52: 29-5-8
|
 |
3 Return Mac
|
 |
4 Rushforth Alley
T: Desmond WintersF: 1112Career: 25: 12-4-2
|
 |
5 Custard Monelli
T: David HobbyF: 2252Career: 34: 10-9-9
|
 |
6 Cash Destroyer
T: Robert CookeF: 1112Career: 22: 12-2-3
|
 |
7 Speeding Fine
T: Johannes VanderburgF: 1111Career: 15: 13-0-1Prizemoney: $31,090
|
 |
8 Running Reds
T: John GriefF: 3131Career: 19: 10-4-3
|
| Reserves | |
 |
9 Super Shanks
T: Christopher BrydonF: 1223Career: 27: 10-6-4Prizemoney: $47,055
|
 |
10 Loretta Bale
T: Ike McCorkindaleF: 1163Career: 109: 18-17-23Prizemoney: $10,320
|
.jpg){kind=logo}
