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Bessy Boo, who finished fifth in last year's Group 1 National Sprint Championship, has earned a second shot at the title thanks to a remarkable win in Saturday night's Ladbrokes NSW Sprint Final at Wentworth Park.
Coming from an unsuitable box six draw on his 90th start, Bessy Boo (pictured) was seventh going into the first turn but came out of the catching pen just trailing Jack Kade and La Grand Logie.
From there it was only a matter of Christine Proctor's great campaigner getting a clear run, and although held up slightly when attempting to pass La Grand Logie, Bessy Boo was a close second behind Jack Kade on the home turn.
He then came away to win by just on four lengths in 29.81, with Jack Kade's clear second placing winning him a place in this Saturday night's $75,000 to the winner final.
Bessy Boo displayed track sense in taking advantage of a slight scrimmage on the first corner, where Uno Suzie and hot favourite Smart Missile tangled up.
While Bessy Boo had some good fortune in finding the rails run at that point, he once again, like all champions, made his own luck.
"Bessy Boo is truly a one-in-a-million greyhound," delighted trainer Christine Proctor said. "Last year he finished fifth from a wide draw, which didn't suit him, on a track which he was not used to.''
Bessy Boo's owner Ashley Wilson added: "When he was a distant third I was hoping he would sneak into second place to qualify for the final," Bessy Boo's owner Ashley Wilson said. "To see him get up and win is fantastic.''
Proctor was hoping for box one in the final so was delighted when her dog came up with the next best option, box two.
Jack Kade drew box one for the final after a brave ruin to finish second.
"I have never had a starter in a race of this magnitude," owner Peter Spiteri said "No matter where my.dog finishes in the final I'll be over the moon.
"Just to be in a race like this is a dream come true.''
Group 1 National Sprint Final box draw: 1 Jack Kade 2 Boo">Bessy Boo">Boo 3 Keybow 4 Nero Bolt 5 Fernando Bale 6 Breaker's Tip 7 Alex's Entity 8 Margins. Reserves: Tap Out Rose and La Grand Logie.
Veteran Keybow, the 2014 Perth Cup winner, showed he is far from a spent force with a sizzling 29.63 solo trial before the first race last Saturday night.
Keybow produced quick splits of 5.42, 13.64 and 17.78 and trainer Tony Brett was thrilled.
"I set him a big task because we drove from Brisbane to Wentworth Park this morning," Brett said. "It was a big ask, but I felt he needed another look at the track.''
Magic Earner, bred by Amanda Stollery, daughter of Wentworth Park Bookmaker Mark Stollery, and who was sold at the Dapto Puppy Auction, was a runaway winner of Saturday night's NSW Distance Championship final.
After overcoming a slow start to win her heat in 42.15 Magic Earner jumped smartly on Saturday and settled in second place before taking the lead leaving the back straight to score in 42.17.
Lord Golec came with a late burst to snatch second place, and with it a final qualifying position, a half length ahead of pacemaker Ada Mary.
Magic Earner has drawn box five in the final but trainer Anthony Azzopardi believes the greyhound is not as badly positioned as it seems.
"The greyhounds drawn in boxes two, three and four don't have a lot of early speed so if Magic Earner begins like she did tonight she should be okay,'' Azzopardi said.
"Her hang-up could the Queenslander Mullaway, in box six, because that greyhound likes to rail.''
Box draw for Saturday night's National Distance Championship final, also worth $75,000 to the winner, is: 1 Lillycette 2 Lord Golec 3 Sweet It Is 4 Psychotic Gold 5 Magic Earner 6 Mullaway 7 Deadly Boy 8 Lady Toy with Ada Mary and Smooth Number the reserves.
Hobby trainer Michael Eberand was satisfied with Lord Golec's box two draw, despite the fact that his greyhound is a wide runner.
"He is not completely comfortable getting around Wentworth Park because he is more of a big track dog," Eberand said. "He is a dyed-in-the-wool stayer, something one doesn't see too often these days.
"Lord Golec is getting better with each run and on one occasion he did surprise me by leading all the way to win a provincial race, so who knows?''
See you next week!
