Crash Bandicoot made it a happy homecoming for former NSW trainer Anthony Azzopardi after the greyhound took out the Group 1 Ladbrokes Vic Peters Classic at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Starting from box six, Crash Bandicoot ($8) found himself in the back-half of the field around the first turn after he could not match the early speed of early leaders Allonsy Grace and Shallay Pallay.
But the greyhound stuck to his task and took advantage of the leaders tiring, railing beautifully at the top of the home straight to run away for a two-and-a-quarter length win in 30.21.
The win took Crash Bandicoot's record to 11 wins from 26 starts and the greyhound now recorded almost $110,000 in prizemoney. For Azzopardi, who is now based in Victoria after being a leading NSW trainer, it was his second Vic Peters victory in three years.
Chasin' Crackers ($3.70) made good ground late to finish second, while Allonsy Grace was gallant in holding on for third.
The tiring Shallay Pallay ($4.60) finished fourth but was also handed a 28 day suspension for marring after appearing to turn his head in the home straight.
The race favourite, Bekin Street ($2.80) never overcame a poor start from box one and finished in seventh.
Apart from the $75,000 winner's cheque, Crash Bandicoot's win also means the greyhound has now got an exemption for the Melbourne Cup heats which begin later this month.
In other results at Wentworth Park on Saturday night, the JODIE Lord-trained Rohan Hill set the fastest time of the night, clocking 30.02 in winning the free-for-all.
The Ray Smith-trained Big Daddy Bee, meanwhile, continued his good run of form at Wentworth Park winning the night's only 720m race in 42.56 by a comfortable eight length margin.
Big Daddy Bee, who won the Group 1 National Derby over the 520m distance earlier this year, has now won his last two starts at Wentworth Park, and extended his prizemoney total past $140,000.
