What you may have missed: Victorian duo shine in Nationals
CHAMPION Victorian greyhounds Sweet It Is and Fernando Bale stole the spotlight at Wentworth Park on Saturday night, taking out the Group 1 National Distance and Sprint Championships respectively.
Sweet It Is, trained by Braden Finn, began fairly from box three and uncharacteristically took up a mid-field position past the post on the first occasion before unleashing her trademark burst of speed to claim the front on the back straight. The daughter of Mogambo and Off Springer strode clear to score by a widening eight-and-three-quarter lengths in a track record time of 41.52.
Fernando Bale was also at his dazzling best, exploding from box five and going straight to the early lead in the National Sprint decider. Once in front it was the end of the section as the white and dark brindle powerhouse rocketed away to score in a sensational 29.26. The victory was the sixth Group 1 win of his career, with the Andrea Dailly-trained speedster now expected to head to Dapto for a tilt at the lucrative $75,000-to-the-winner Dapto Megastar.
Watch Fernando Bale’s victory from box five below.
Fantastic Dotty flawless once again
Fantastic Dotty stamped herself as one the most exciting youngsters in the country with an emphatic 29.34 success in a semi-final of the Group 3 Dapto Maiden series, shaving nine one hundredths of a second off her own track record set the week prior.
Trained by Jason Fletcher, the daughter of Goodesy and Light Fantastic looks to have this Thursday’s $22,500-to-the-winner final at her mercy. The black bitch will jump from box two in the 520 metre feature against a talented field of pups including Makenton Jag (box three), Miracle (box four) and Tilly’s Boy (box five) – the question is, will they present enough of a challenge for the futue superstar?
Check out Fantastic Dotty’s second track record run at her second career start.
Smart Missile the fastest qualifier for the Black Top
The Jason Mackay-trained Smart Missile made amends for missing a berth in the National Sprint Championship, recording a breathtaking track record time of 29.19 in a heat of the Group 2 Black Top at The Gardens last Friday.
A winner of seven from 13 going into the race, Smart Missile bounded straight to the lead from the cherry and managed to hold off a late challenge from a gallant Brad Hill Billy to score by a head on the line.
In all eight heats were held, with the winner of each progressing through to this week’s $40,000-to-the-winner feature.
The box draw for Group 2 Black Top is as follows:
1. La Grand Logie – Jeff Eaton
2. Smart Missile – Jason Mackay
3. Miner’s Moss – Mathew Reid
4. Opus Forte – Luke Azzopardi
5. Gracie See More – Neville Stokes
6. Uno Suzie – Anthony Azzopardi
7. Sheba‘s Diva – Cherylee Frankland-Shambler
8. Avenging Gun – Antonio Teofilo
In the stewards room
Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) Stewards have concluded an inquiry surrounding trainer Matthew Moncrieff over three years after his greyhounds, On His Way and Avondale Prince, returned urine samples containing abnormal levels of metabolites of the endogenous substance ethanol, ethanol glucuronide and ethyl sulphate.
The samples were taken after both greyhounds performed poorly in their respective races at The Gardens on February 17, 2012.
Moncrieff was not able to offer an explanation as to how the greyhounds may have been administered the prohibited substances and, despite entering a plea of not guilty, he was found guilty on two charges under GAR 83(2)(a).
After considering a penalty, Stewards disqualified Moncrieff for a period of five years on each charge to be served concurrently.
Vanderburg appeal adjourned
The Racing Appeals Tribunal approved an application to adjourn an appeal made by Wayne Vanderburg against GRNSW’s decision to deny him an attendant’s licence after the expiration of his 27 month disqualification which was in relation to positive substances.
His appeal will now be rescheduled, however it will not be heard prior to October 15, 2015.
Donald Jarvis disqualified
Trainer Donald Jarvis appeared before the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board (RADB) charged with a breach of GAR 83 (2)(3) after he failed to present his greyhound, Fang Larky, free of a prohibited substance to race at Shepparton on April 6, 2015.
Jarvis pleaded guilty to the charge, with a urine sample detecting the presence of Atenolol. He was subsequently found guilty as charged and disqualified for a period of nine months, three of which were wholly suspended for 12 months pending no further rule breaches.
Fang Larky was also disqualified from the event in question.
Paul Formosa disqualified
Trainer Paul Formosa has been disqualified for a period of 12 months, three of which have been wholly suspended for 12 months pending no further rule breaches, after his greyhound, Gunmetal Rebel, returned a urine sample which indicated the presence of the prohibited substance Atenolol.
He pleaded guilty to a breach of GAR GAR 83 (2)(3) which relates to failing to present a greyhound to race in a condition which is free of prohibited substances.
Gunmetal Rebel was also disqualified from the event in question with the placings amended accordingly.