Vamoose wins Thunderbolt final at Grafton
Vamoose served up a blistering run to smash his best time over the Grafton 350m while taking victory in the 2023 $75,000 to-the-winner Thunderbolt final on Saturday night.
Billed as the world's richest short course race, the Susan Smith-trained chaser entered The Thunderbolt as a +200 favourite with greyhound betting sites, after winning his semi final in 20.23.
The week before Vamoose had run 19.79 winning a Grafton leg of The Thunderbolt race series.
The need to travel to Grafton to qualify for The Thunderbolt semi-finals followed an unlucky run in a roughly run Thunderbolt race at Gosford.
In the final, Vamoose was the best start from the field, with the striking white and blue son of Fernando Bale x Blue Thunda dog hitting the lead early, and taking command of the race as he swung for home.
Vamoose extended in the run to the line, taking the win in 19.74 seconds, 2.5 lengths ahead of Rushforth Ally (+600), with a further 1.25 lengths to West Australian (WA) greyhound Custard Monelli, who was paying +3300.
2023 The Thunderbolt Final (Grafton, 350m) – Vamoose (19.74) T: Susan Smith
Rushforth Ally ran on impressively in defeat to finish runner up, but the class of the winner was far too high.
Trained by Desmond Winters, Rushforth Ally had finished second in his heat last week and now has 12 wins and seven placings from 26 career starts.
Vamoose went in to the final armed with a best time at the track and trip of 19.79, but the run in the final was faster still cutting his record down to 19.74.
His form now stands at 30 wins and 13 placings from 53 starts, while banking $171,630 for connections.
He continues to cement his profile as a genuine sprint star having now only gone unplaced six times from his past 35 starts.
The 2023 Thunderbolt is just the second running of the $75,000 to-the-winner short course greyhound race, after Integrity Mate won the inaugural 2022 running of The Thunderbolt for trainer Rob Andrews.
Branded as the world's richest greyhound race for short course dogs, The Thunderbolt is not a black-type race despite its huge first prize.
Vamoose has previously raced in one black-type final, finishing second behind Len Me Dad in the 2023 Group 2 Maitland Cup.
2023 The Thunderbolt
2023 Thunderbolt ResultsGrafton350mNot Black Type$75,000 to-the-winnerSaturday June 24 202319.74
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| 1st |
2 Vamoose
T: Sue Smith19.74 – $75,000
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| 2nd |
4 Rushforth Ally
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| 3rd |
5 Custard Monelli
T: David Hobby20.003.75 lengths $7,500
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| 4th |
3 Return Mac
T: Shayne Stiff20.379 lengths $1,100
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| 5th |
7 Speeding Fine
T: Johannes Vanderburg20.4410 lengths
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| 6th |
8 Running Reds
T: John Grief20.4510 lengths
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| 7th |
1 Johnny Red
T: John Miles20.5111 lengths
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| 8th |
6 Cash Destroyer
T: Robert Cooke20.5711.75 lengths
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