Wind Whistler breaks through for maiden group win in Lizrene
WIND Whistler has upstaged some of his more fancied rivals to record a strong victory in the Group 3 Lizrene (715m) at Sandown Park.
Jumping from box three in the $25,000 to the winner feature, the Angela Langton-trained chaser was able to push up along the fence through the first turn to slip into third spot in the run into the straight on the first occasion before circling the leaders through the catching pen to assume the lead. Out in front, the son of Premier Fantasy and Seminole had the classy stayer Lioness Lulu making steady ground behind him, with Esparza also bursting clear of the pack in pursuit of the lamplighter.
Swinging for home and the challengers were coming, but Wind Whistler was not going down without a fight and was able to grip on to score by 0.83 lengths over Lioness Lulu in a fast 41.86.
The win was the 18th victory throughout Wind Whistler's 96 start career, with the white and black greyhound now boasting $146,740 in prize money earnings.
The Lizrene win was also the first group success for the ultra consistent greyhound, which had previously been a finalist in the Group 2 Cranbourne Cup, the Group 3 SA Derby, the Group 3 Racecallers, the Group 3 Top Cat Video Cup and the Group 3 Sydney Cup throughout his career.