ZIPPING Maggie spoiled the Xylia Allen/Sweet It Is match race scenario by leading throughout in Saturday night’s Group 3 Chairman’s Cup final at Wentworth Park.
Trained in Victoria by Peter Dapiran, ZIPPING Maggie became the seventh interstate or international raider to win the Cup since 2007 and was the baby of the field at 28 months of age.
But NSW can claim some credit as the winner was bred and is owned by Fiona and Marty Hallinan, at Clergate, near ORANGE, and was even caught by Tommy Pullman from Abermain.
Peter Dapiran, who has been a trainer for 45 years and has 30 greyhounds in his kennels, said after the race that ZIPPING Maggie was “Always going to be a stayer".
“She was getting bashed around in sprints so I switched her to staying races.
“I’ve never agreed with the idea that greyhounds have to be a certain age to tackle long distance racing because if they are going to run the journey they will run it at any age."
ZIPPING Maggie’s win was certainly no fluke as she not only beat Xylia Allen and Sweet It Is on their merits, but she became the first greyhound to break the 42 second barrier in a Chairman’s Cup final by clocking a sizzling 41.78 race record time.
While the Chairman's Cup contained the best stayers in Australia, the race prior saw the potential staying star of the future.
The Dawn Garrett-trained Space Star scored a dominant 13 3/4 length victory, in which he covered the 720m in 41.97. Space Star has now won 11 from 16 starts, including two from three over the 720m at Wentworth Park.
In other results, handler Ken Barnden, whose father Bob trains Big Tee Sal, said he wasn’t surprised their greyhound “got tired" in his win in Saturday night’s second heat of the 2-5 Wins Stakes.
“Big Tee Sal doesn’t back up well if his races are too close together and goes better fresh so he was on the lead in the week before tonight’s race,’’ Ken said.
“We’ll have to do the same with him in the lead-up to this week’s final because after a race he takes a while to recover.
“Our other dog Alan’s Kidz had won three races at Wentworth Park before Big Tee Sal scored his first win there but in trials Big Tee Sal has Always been a bit quicker.
“But while Alan’s Kidz could race and win within 24 hours of having a hard run, Big Tee Sal takes a while to pick up after a race.’’
Are Jip and Silent Effective were the 520m stars at Saturday night’s Wentworth Park meeting.
Are Jip disputed the early lead in his race before careering away to win in 29.51, coming home in an astonishing 11.55.
The Kristy Sultana-trained son of Fabregas has now won four of his six Wentworth Park races, yet does not turn two until December.
Silent Effective, trained by Kristy’s cousin Darren Sultana, came from last at box rise to record his fourth win in seven Wentworth Park starts, although his time, 30.05, was well wide of his personal best of 29.54.
In other news, Sportingbet Megastar winner Tommy Brislane is set to contest next Saturday night’s heats of the Group 2 Bob Payne Spring Sprint at Wentworth Park but likely to bypass next month’s Group 1 Vic Peters Classic.
Trainer Steve White said at Wentworth Park on Saturday: “I hope to get an invitation for Tommy Brislane to contest the Group 1 Topgun at The Meadows on October 25 and that race is only 24 hours after the Vic Peters semi-finals."
See you next week!
