Shadale sensational in Group 3 Sir John Dillon Memorial
JIM Redenbach was full of praise for his consistent greyhound Shadale (Cosmic Rumble x Budgie Lass Aug '15) after the blue dog scored an all the way win in the Group 3 Sir John Dillon Memorial (595m) at Sandown Park on Friday night.
Jumping from box two, Shadale barged his way to the front through the first turn and, despite racing wide for the entire trip, was too nippy for Extreme Magic (Black Magic Opal x Outlandish Feb '15) when winning by three quarters of a length in 34.07.
Shadale's Tale https://t.co/f0cLQyggAf pic.twitter.com/gltHBaJm08
— Ben (@GreyhoundSystem) November 17, 2017
Redenbach says he gave his charge a good pep talk ahead of the $25,000 to the winner race.
“I gave him a big chance and I thought there was only one dog which could beat him and that was [Extreme Magic],” Redenbach told Australian Racing Greyhound.
“But I said to him before the race ‘Now you listen to me Lancey, when number five comes up to you just make sure you kick up and beat him' and that's what he did.
“It was unbelievable; he is such a good boy.”
Shadale has been in sensational form recently, winning six of his past nine starts. His most recent defeat was a second placing in his heat of the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (515m) on November 17 behind Chasin' Crackers (Fabregas x Lady Arko Aug '15) which went on to finish runner-up in the $600k final.
Although the Sir John Dillion was not as lucrative as the Melbourne Cup, Redenbach says winning the middle distance event was a nice consolation to missing out on the final.
“These races are hard to get into, let alone win, especially when you have only got a small kennel and I got a really big thrill out of him winning it.
“He is getting fitter and a bit more experienced. He is turning into a very nice dog – he is a good little pup.”
We can't let Shadale's (2) win in last night's Sir John Dillon Memorial go under the radar.
To hold off a greyhound like Extreme Magic, huge effort! pic.twitter.com/aQYpL3QRl7
— Sandown Greyhounds (@sandowndogs) November 25, 2017
Shadale has now won 14 of his 29 starts with eight placings, his prize money now sitting at $99,395. He is owned by the Gebecepe Syndicate who named him after a fellow syndicate member who passed away.
“Shad was part of the syndicate which owned and raced this dog's dam – Budgie Lass – the same people now own Shadale.
“He was a really nice chap but sadly he died from cancer, so Jeff Lance the syndicate manager decided to name the dog after him. Shad loved a beer – or ale – so that's how the name Shadale came about.
“It's quite a catchy name and the more he wins the better it sounds.”