Precious Sal Breaks Winsome Jacko's Record

By Jeff Collerson

Queenslander Sal">Precious Sal">Sal produced an extraordinary dress rehearSal for this year's Group 2 Maitland Gold Cup with a record shattering performance at the Hunter Valley circuit last Thursday.

The Darren Russell-trained greyhound was second away but quickly led and careered away to score by 12 lengths, covering the 400m in an unprecedented 21.87.

Winsome Jacko was the previous record holder, having posted 21.98 back in October, 2014.

Russell wasn't done with there either, as Sal">Precious Sal">Sal's litter sister and kennelmate Go Lassie Go scored her 19th win in 45 starts at the same meeting, zipping over the 400m in a slippery 22.18.

"I brought them to Maitland to give them a look at the track as I plan to have them in the Cup heats on April 5,'' Russell said.

"There is a chance I will bring them back for a couple of 450 metre races there in a couple of weeks’ time.

"Sal">Precious Sal">Sal is a very fast bitch and I was quietly confident she would break the record because the track has been in such good order lately.

"I doubt Sal">Precious Sal">Sal will get 520 metres, although at her only race beyond 500, at Ipswich, the track was particularly heavy.

"But she is probably best suited up to 450 metres, the distance of the Cup series, although she could get the 484 metres at Casino.''

Russell trains Go Lassie Go, who has earned over $55,000 in stakes, and Sal">Precious Sal">Sal, winner of nine from 20 appearances, for Northern Rivers breeder Margaret Dwyer.

Surin' Sal, the dam of Go Lassie Go and Sal">Precious Sal, has been a remarkable producer.

Her first litter, whelped in January, 2012 to Where's Pedro, included the Russell-trained Farmer's Gold, winner of 12 races and $67,000 prizemoney.

Tripum, a son of Collision and Surin' Sal was from the second litter, and he earned $130,000 prizemoney through 19 wins for Russell and Dwyer.

Precious Gal and Go Lassie Go are members of Surin' Sal's third and most recent litter, whelped to El Grand Senor in January, 2015.

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Champion Model will target a third provincial cup win after scoring her 14th victory in 27 starts at Bulli on Saturday night.

Having only her second race after a short spell, the JODIE Lord-trained Champion Model won over 472m in 26.38, fastest time of the night.

"I will now nominate her for Wentworth Park before getting Champion Model ready for the heats of the Group 2 Ladbrokes Bulli Cup on February 17,'' Lord said.

"She won last year's Canberra and Goulburn Cups and I have always had a massive opinion of this greyhound, I believe she will win Group races this preparation.''

Champion Model's win at Bulli was one of five wins by Lord-trained greyhounds on Saturday night.

At Bulli Lord also won with newcomer Mr Automatic and with Banjo Shark, who scored his 18th win in 32 starts, while she also landed a winning double at Saturday night's Wentworth Park meeting.

Lord's Wenty winners were Zambora Cross, who registered win number 24 in leading throughout over 520m, and Bombshell Bandit, who led throughout at long odds to take out the meeting's top grade 520m sprint in a brilliant 29.98.

"Bombshell Bandit is among the keenest chasers I have trained so I intend breeding from her,'' Lord said.

"It's important to get offspring from bitches who were naturally tenacious chasers behind the mechanical lure.''