Gradence scored his first group race victory when he took out the Group 3 Sportingbet Cyril Rowe Gold Plate (472m) at Bulli on Wednesday night.
The Mark Gatt-trained greyhound (pictured, red rug) was first reserve for the final and only got a start when his kennelmate Ritza Ryder was scratched on the morning of the race with an injury.
Starting from box one, Gradence ($6.80) was slow to begin, finding himself second-last in the early stages.
But as he so often does, Gradence saved his best for last, mowing down the leading duo of Spring Eddie and Zipping Logan in the home straight to record a 1/2 length win in 26.47.
Zipping Logan held on for second, while Knocka's Return overcame a terrible start to rattle home for third. Spring Eddie, the leader for much of the race, faded for fourth.
The win for Gradence was the 22nd of his career and the third for 2014.
Prior to his win in the Cyril Rowe Plate, the son of Vapour Whirl had become the "Consolation King" in January, having won both the Gosford Gold Cup consolation (Steve Blyth Gold Cup) and the Paws Of Thunder consolation (The Collerson) this month.
"He really deserved to win a group race," Gatt said.
"He got held up early in the race but just got to the outside at the right time and when he moved to third I started yelling.
"His owner Joe Scerri and all his family were there so it was a great result."
Meanwhile, the hard luck story of the Cyril Rowe Plate was My Signature ($3.20).
The Lena Sweetman-trained chaser was backed in betting late, starting a clear cut favourite only for him to injure a back muscle when he loomed for the lead in the early stages of the race.
