Kiwi Chaser Thrilling Brat Reigns Supreme In Group 1 Superstayers Final
New Zealand chaser Thrilling Brat sent a country into raptures after winning the Group 1 Macro Meats Superstayers over 725 metres – worth $75,000 to the winner – at The Meadows on Saturday night.
The son of Hallucinate and Thrilling Faith jumped very well from box eight and gave nothing else a chance, striding away to an amazing 11 and three quarter length win in 42.34 – an extraordinary run considering the amount of rain that hammered The Meadows in the lead up to the first of two Group 1 events on the night.
Adelle Bale finished second, while favourite Shimaguni ($2.40) ran third.
Trainer Karen Walsh was the toast of the town in New Zealand, and praised her time in Australia.
“It has been an absolute honour to be in Australia to race my greyhounds. Everybody has been so welcoming and I would really like to thank the Garland family who have let us stay at their property while our dogs have run in the country. It is such a thrill to win this race. I would also like to thank owner Gary Harding, who couldn't make it here tonight, but would be so proud of Thrilling Brat's run,” said Karen.
Thrilling Brat improved his record to 20 wins from 33 starts, including a new prizemoney total of over $154,000.
The brindle chaser became the first Kiwi owned and trained chaser to win a Group race at The Meadows, and is the first NZ greyhound to win an Australian group race since Waiwera Marika won the NSW St Leger (now the Paws Of Thunder) at Wentworth Park in 1998.
The Macro Meats Superstayers final and the Group 1 Rover Mowers Australian Cup capped off an amazing three weeks of racing at The Meadows, where over $800,000 in prizemoney was won in another outstanding carnival.