Black Lee Bonus will be primed for another potential Wentworth Park victory after her superb win in the Group 3 Charcoal Inn Casino Cup (484m) last Friday
The Evelyn Harris-owned and trained greyhound produced a commanding run as an $18.80 shot to claim last Friday night's $25,000-to-the-winner decider, one of the biggest races of the year in the NSW Northern Rivers.
Black Lee Bonus (box eight) will next tackle the 5th grade Ladbrokes Appreciation Stakes (race one, 520m) at the Sydney circuit this Wednesday after taking her prize money earnings to a tick more than $46,000 with the cup win.
The Casino Cup victory was one of the biggest wins in the career of Evelyn and her husband Len Harris, who has been breeding, owning and training greyhounds for more than 40 years.
"We are stoked about it," Len Harris said.
"Her mother, Magic Sprite, made a Casino Cup about four years ago when we first moved up to Casino. Black Lee Bonus is one of her first daughters, so it's quite fitting she won this.
"There's been about 40 years of breeding to get to this stage, so to win a Group 3 is a lovely feeling."
Black Lee Bonus was a smart 28.02 winner in the previous week's heats and continued that form in the final, jumping well from box seven and winning in 27.76.
She finished one-and-three-quarter lengths ahead of runner-up Tobias Rumble ($17.40), with $2 favourite Nangar Thunder finishing third.
The win extended Black Lee Bonus's overall record to a solid 13 wins and 15 minor placings from 53 starts.
"As soon as she led and Nangar Thunder was back around fifth or sixth, I wasn’t worried if she kept going," Len Harris said. "I just thought, 'keep your head down girl'.
"Both her and (kennelmate and litter sister) Miss Spritely are good greyhounds and have raced well for us.
"It's very satisfying for us to have a win like this and we're very proud."
Black Lee Bonus has now won her last three starts and also scored a 30.72 win over the 520m on her last appearance at Wentworth Park back in August.
Meanwhile, the Harrises rug up Black Zac Bonus (box three) and Vincent (box six) in the Ladbrokes Red Dog Sprint Series Final (race seven, 407m) at tonight's Grafton meeting.
Both look strong chances but the one to beat looks like Eyecee Teecee (box eight), who has won three of his last four starts and was a dazzling 23.12 winner in last week's heats.
Others to watch at Grafton tonight include Spring Abby (box eight, race five), Newcastle Brown (box eight, race six) and Charlie Sprite (box eight, race eight).
Forgotten Valley (box one) has run three solid placings recently and looks the night's best bet at race two.
For Grafton Monday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
For Wentworth Park Wednesday fields and form, click here.
