THAT litter picks up another feature
The success of one of the most remarkable litters continued on Saturday night at Wentworth Park when Blue Moon Rising took out the $25,000 to the winner, Group 3 Gold Cup over the 720m journey.
Many had expected his litter sister Poco Dorado to be the one winning, but after she dwelt at the start, then was checked soon after, Blue Moon Rising – who won the Group 1 Fanta Bale Super Stayers in Melbourne earlier this year – was off and gone, and went on to win by four and a quarter lengths in 41.90s, the equal of the best he had run at Wenty, a time produced when second to Poco Dorado last December.
Poco Dorado was gallant in finishing second, just the second time in 14 attempts that she has not won over the staying trip at Wentworth Park, while Ray Smith’s Little Digger was third.
Blue Moon Rising’s and Poco Dorado’s sister Veloce Nero, and brother Two Times Twice, finished back in the field.
The four members of the Fernando Bale-Chica Destacada – all now stayers, ironically with their parents both brilliant sprinters - have each achieved amazing results in their careers.
Poco Dorado has raced 65 times for 30 wins and 19 placings and $290,435 in prizemoney. Blue Moon Rising has now had 71 starts for 20 wins and 31 placings and won $273,324, Two Times Twice has had 63 starts for 20 wins and 19 placings and $122,890 in earnings, and Veloce Nero has had 58 starts for 15 wins and 25 placings and $114,299 in prizemoney.
Between them that’s an incredible 85 wins and 94 placings from 257 starts and prizemoney now of $800, 948.
The quartet will now be set for the Group 1 Association Cup over the Ladbrokes Easter Egg Carnival.
Watch Blue Moon Rising win the Gold Cup here.
Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg heats
Heats of the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg will be held at Wentworth Park on Saturday, with semi-finals the following week and the $250,000 to the winner final on April 20.
The interstate visitors continued to trial at Wentworth Park on Saturday with Western Australia speedster Campini, who is staying with John and Minnie Finn, recording a slashing 29.51s effort, with splits of 5.56s, 13.89s, and 17.94s, while Queenslander Brandi Alexander clocked 29.78s with splits of 5.51s, 13.94s, and 18.04s.
In Saturday’s final preludes to the event, Frank Hurst’s Good Odds Buddy stunned racegoers by giving boom Victorian Blue Striker a start and a beating in a very fast 29.55sec, the best of the night. Hurst has earmarked the Group 3 New Sensation for both Good Odds Buddy and his litter brother Good Odds Harada.
The other prelude was taken out by the Julie Fletcher trained Finale who clocked 30.02s. The favourite, Million Dollar Chase runner-up Jamella Jet, had absolutely no luck at all in the run, being knocked sideways, twice, on the first turn.
Watch Good Odds Buddy Easter Egg Prelude win here.
Neds Friday Night Lightning
Neds Friday Night Lightning was back at Wentworth Park last Friday, with another good crowd and some heart-warming performances on the track.
The star was again Soul Breaking, aged six years, and three months, who took out the final of the Masters’ event for Cudal trainer Amanda Ginn.
A week earlier Soul Breaking had broken his Wentworth Park maiden status at his first run on the city track in winning the heat of the Masters’ race, and historians were left scratching their heads trying to find another time when a six year old dog had won back to back starts at headquarters.
Another great story from the night was the win of Kingsbrae Boy who came down from South Tamworth with owner-trainer Troy Luke.
For the 47-year-old Luke it was his first Wentworth Park winner with his first runner in town, and his fifth win with Kingsbrae Boy, who had been given to him 12 months ago as a maiden greyhound after being considered virtually "hopeless" as a racing proposition.
It was an emotional Luke after Kingsbrae Boy's win, pointing out that his late father Len, who had been president of the Tamworth Greyhound Club, had never been able to win a race in Sydney, the closest he ever got to winning a race in Sydney was a second placing at Harold Park.
The Neds Friday Night Lightning Series will continue next Friday on April 5, and the following Friday night.
Head here to see the full trainers' leader board.
Magic Maiden Heats
Heats of the Group 3 Magic Maiden will be run on Wednesday night with some talented and well-bred youngsters nominated.
There will be plenty of interest around the members of the second litter of Chica Destacada, this litter sired by Barcia Bale.
The Finns train a number of the litter including Really Unreal, Toca Madera, Blue Summer Sky, Making A Memory, Dreamin' Is Free, and Bianco Caliente, while Kerry Drynan, whose mother Doreen trained Chica Destacada, also has two from the litter, Timeless Moment and Let Me No.
Watch Really Unreal’s recent trial at Richmond here.
Age shall not weary them.
Amanda Ginn’s Soul Breaking is not the only veteran racing in great heart at the moment, and on Tuesday night at Lismore, Aristotle will go around.
Today – and it’s not an April Fool’s joke - Aristotle celebrates his sixth birthday.
Trained at Sandy Crossing by Warren Kempshall, Aristotle has had 135 starts for 45 wins and 50 placings, and according to Warren, is showing no signs of wanting to retire.
Watch Aristiotle’s last win at Casino here.
GAP National Adoption Day looming
It was a tremendously successful day at the new Greyhounds As Pets facility at Western Sydney recently and next on the agenda will be the National Adoption Day on April 28 at Wentworth Park.
The day was a huge success both nationally and local in 2018, with 42 greyhounds finding forever homes as a result of Wentworth Park event.
For more information on greyhound adoption head to the www.gapnsw.com.au
