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Knight Sprite will tackle the heats of the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg series after his thrilling victory in the Group 2 Richmond Derby on Friday night.
The Gayle Masterton-trained greyhound (who started $2 favourite) defeated Brad Hill Hilly by a head in a thrilling decider to score his second Group race victory, having take out the Group 2 Gosford Gold Cup at the start of the year.
Knight Sprite now looks a big threat for the three-week Golden Easter Egg series, which kicks off at Wentworth Park with heats this Saturday
“He is definitely going for the Easter Egg,” Masterson said following the Derby win.
“I’ll get him checked (today) but he should be fine. He pulled up fine and looks happy as anything.
“Ron Arnold (MC) said at the presentation that Cyrus The Virus was the only greyhound to win the Richmond Derby and then Golden Easter Egg (in 2004). Maybe Knight Sprite can do it as well.”
It was a brave run by Knight Sprite after he only jumped fairly from box four and had to work himself into the race.
Brad Hill Billy drew level with him at the final corner but Knight Sprite timed his dive for the line superbly.
“I knew it would be a hard race but I knew he was getting stronger,” Masterson said. “He had given himself every chance.
“I saw Brad Hill Billy coming up at the final corner and just thought, ‘come on boy, keep going’.
“When I realised he’d won I was dumbfounded – I couldn’t speak.”
Brad Hill Billy ($4.70) had to settle for second, with Black Driftwood ($15.20) running a brave race to finish third.
The win extended Knight Sprite’s career prizemoney earnings to almost $140,000 and continued a fairytale run for NSW Hunter Valley-based Masterson.
Knight Sprite cut his teeth on Non-TAB tracks at Taree and Wauchope and is Masterson’s best greyhound in three decades of training.
“It is a fairytale,” Masterson said.
“I’m just going to enjoy every moment with him as I know this doesn’t come along very often.”
Meanwhile, Mitcharlie Mia also looks one to watch in the Golden Easter Egg series after taking out the Group 2 Richmond Oaks in impressive fashion.
The $3.30 favourite held off fast-finishing Star Torana ($5.10) by three-quarters of a length to land the feature race for Northern Rivers-based owner-trainer Mitchell Northfield.
Mitcharlie Mia’s victory continued a sparkling few months for Northern Rivers-trained greyhounds after Toni Northfield’s victory with Kingsbrae Nelly in the Group 2 Lismore Gold Cup and Robbie Cooke’s Group 1 National Futurity triumph with CASH In Motion.
The win in the female greyhounds-only race extended Mitcharlie Mia’s record to an impressive 17 wins and 10 minor placings from 33 starts. Mitcharlie Mia has already scored two placings in three previous visits to Wentworth Park.
Duna Runa ($7.40) was third in the Oaks.
