Marbo’s Magic is being primed for another feature race after his storming victory in the Group 2 PPK Mining Maitland Gold Cup (450m).
The Paul Braddon-trained greyhound made it 11 wins from 12 starts with his triumph in last Friday night’s $36,000-to-the-winner final at the NSW Hunter Valley track.
Jumping from box five as a $4.10 third favourite, Marbo’s Magic made his usual slow start but produced a breathtaking surge to the front and held off fast-finishing Aston Bolero to take the win in 25.02.
Pamela Braddon, who assists husband Paul with training duties, said the greyhound will now be primed for the heats of the Cosmic Rumble Dubbo Gold Cup heats (516m) next Monday.
“We’ll probably give him a trial and see how he pulls up,” she said. “If he goes okay then we’ll put him in for the Dubbo Gold Cup.
“This is our biggest win yet (and) it’s wonderful to have a greyhound like him. We just hope he can stay fit and well and keep producing runs like this.”
Marbos Magic continued his near-unbeatable form for the Braddons with the one-and-a-quarter-length victory, which also made it three triumphs from three visits to Maitland for the son of El Grand Senor and WILLOW Blaze.
He had started the final as the fastest qualifier, having run a blistering 24.84 from box five the previous week.
Aston Bolero finished second, with Sleek Master ($27.90) producing a valiant run to finish third.
Joint favourite Big Ticket could not get into the race and finished sixth.
It was also the biggest title yet for the NSW Central West-based Braddons, although WILLOW Blaze won the 2012 Bathurst RSL Soldiers Saddle for the couple.
“I couldn’t see from the catching pen if he had won,” Pamela said. “I was just waiting and then they told me ‘yes, he’s got it’.
“Paul said he just seemed to push them out of the way and worked his way to the front. He’s such a class greyhound and once he gets going, he’s very hard to run down.
“Paul has said this is the greyhound he has waited all his life for. Hopefully we can win a few more big races with him.”
Among the other winners at Maitland was NSW star Brad Hill Billy, who defeated a strong field to win over the 565m in 31.78.
The triumph took his record to 21 wins and 25 minor placings in 56 starts and extended his prize money earnings over the $220,000 mark.
Trainer Ray Smith said afterwards his greyhound will also likely be primed for the Dubbo Gold Cup.
Other impressive winners on the night included the Jason Mackay-trained newcomer Zipping Jordan, who won by 11-and-a-quarter lengths over the 565m in 32.13.
