Black Bear Lee took full advantage of gaining a surprise start in the Group 3 John Stollery Memorial Christmas Gift at Wentworth Park by taking out the feature event in a terrific front-running display.
The Ruth Matic-trained greyhound was first reserve for the race but gained a start after the scratching of La Grand Logie due to a minor toe injury.
Black Bear Lee (pictured winning earlier this year) had finished third to La Grand Logie and Let It Develop in the fastest heat but on Saturday night replaced La Grand Logie in box two and was first out and first home.
Black Bear Lee stopped the clock at 29.84 with the ever consistent Let It Develop second all the way and Are Jip running on strongly to cut Knight Sprite out of third prize.
Matic was delighted with the win which was Black Bear Lee's second Group win after he took out the Group 3 Magic Maiden earlier this year.
"I wanted to take Black Bear Lee to Tasmania for the Hobart Thousand because I had been runner-up with Hurricane Luke in a final there and also started my 2006 Peter Mosman Classic winner Faithful Love in that race," Matic said.
"But the Hobart Thousand heats were on Thursday night so we couldn't be in two places at once and because Jason (Lymbery, Black Bear Lee's owner) wanted to try for a second Christmas Gift I agreed to aim for the Wentworth Park race.
"When Black Bear Lee was only first reserve for the final I had some misgivings but he got a start because of La Grand Logie's injury.
"It is terrible luck for La Grand Logie's connections and I can truly sympathise with them, there's nothing worse than to have to scratch from a Group race final.
"Black Bear Lee began beautifully tonight and he is jumping faster now than when he was younger. His only flaw is that he wants to go left when he leaves the starting boxes."
