El Grand Senor’s Second Sectional Record Set up 2010 Topgun Win
The Carolyn Jones-owned and trained El Grand Senor ($5.20) demoralised his rivals in a dazzling display of speed to take out the Group 1 Sky Racing TOPGUN at The Meadows over 525 metres on Saturday night.
The son of Where's Pedro and Elgrando Gold was not hindered by his box four draw, spearing to an early lead after a sensational 5.03 split with a lap to run. With rivals finding trouble on the first corner, El Grand Senor opened up a race-winning lead down the back, stopping the clock at an amazing 17.48 at the next split – shaving .04 off his own previous second sectional track record.
Enjoying a massive lead turning for home, the giant 39-kilogram chaser raced away with his second Group 1 win at The Meadows (he was victorious in the Hudson Pacific Maturity in July), stopping the clock at 29.83, ahead of the impressive Enry Walt (box seven), who ran on extremely well to grab second.
New South Wales chaser Snozz battled on gamely for third, while race favourite Cosmic Chief ($4) finished fourth after missing the start and finding early bother.
Jones – beaming after her star's easy win over Australia's best greyhounds – did not go into race with a great deal of confidence.
“He hadn't been jumping well in his last couple of starts, so I certainly didn't go in very confident.
On ability, I knew he was capable of winning, it was just a matter of him getting out well, which he did. It is just an amazing thrill to win a race against a great field like that,” said Jones, who sent a scary warning out to rival trainers after the race.
“The beauty with El Grand Senor is that I really think he's still improving. When I send him around in a trial, his times keep getting better, so I wasn't overly surprised that he broke his own sectional record in the race.
Now that I've seen him beat the best dogs in Australia, I can look confidently at some of the bigger races on the calendar in the coming months.”
El Grand Senor has won 21 races from just 27 starts, improving his prizemoney to over $217,000 after Saturday's outstanding performance.
The action continues at The Meadows on Monday week (Melbourne Cup eve), with the running of the Group 2 Hume Cup and the Group 3 Silver Bullet on yet another massive night of racing at The Meadows.
Then followed: Cosmic Chief ($4.00), Lochinvar Marlow ($5.60), Proven Jett ($13.90), Smooth Fancy ($4.70) and Pedrosa ($12.20).
El Grand Senor is a Black dog whelped April 2008 by Where's Pedro from Elgrando Gold (Elgrando x Sweet Liberty). He is raced trained and was bred by Carolyn Jones at Sale in Victoria. He has now won 21 races and been placed on three occasions from his 27 starts.
He has an outstanding record at the Meadows over the 525 he has raced there on seven occasions for six wins and a second. The Top Gun first prize of $100,000 brings El Grand Senor's overall prizemoney to $217,125.
Listed below are the past Top Gun winners since the race commended in 1993.
Topgun Honour Roll
- 1993 Worth Backing (VIC) Carl Haas 30.56 Sandown Park
Golden Currency (VIC) Kevin Mugavin Jnr DH - 1994 New Fox (NSW) Dennis Reid 29.98 Olympic Park
- 1995 Rapid Hiker (VIC) Philip Newman 29.80 Sandown Park
- 1996 Wylie Boy (VIC) George Rose 30.09 Sandown Park
- 1997 Chicago Blue (VIC) Brian Furness 30.00 Sandown Park
- 1998 Rapid Journey (NSW) Jane Carruthers 29.85 Sandown Park
- 1999 Mint Magic (NSW) Ray Watson 29.97 Meadows
- 2000 Placard (NSW) Ruth King 29.92 Sandown Park
- 2001 No Intent (VIC) Jason Thompson 30.17 Meadows
- 2002 Lindale Blue (WA) Colin Bainbridge 29.76 Sandown Park
- 2003 Bombastic Shiraz (VIC) Darren Cairns 30.06 Meadows
- 2004 Whisky Assassin (VIC) Jason Thompson 29.40 Sandown Park
- 2005 Black Enforcer (QLD) Tony Brett 30.02 Meadows
- 2006 Jaimandy Coops (VIC) Paul Donohue 29.60 Sandown Park
- 2007 Meticulous (VIC) Mario Briganti 29.88 Meadows
- 2008 Regal Thyme (VIC) Graeme Long 29.75 Meadows
- 2009 Cindeen Shelby (VIC) Kelvyn Greenough 29.75 Meadows
- 2010 El Grand Senor (VIC) Carolyn Jones 29.83 Meadows