When it comes to fast greyhounds, Peter Lagogiane has had his share. Only recently he has trained the winners of not one, but two Million Dollar Chase Grand Finals, has won a Launching Pad, had a dog break the Gosford track and win the Group 2 Gosford Cup.
But he was quick to rank the dog who won his latest feature, Saturday night’s Group 2 Ladbrokes Cyril Rowe Bulli Gold Cup, as “one of the fastest” he has ever trained, and that explosive speed comes “on three and half legs.”
Barcia Blue Boy showed last week’s stunning 25.90s heat performance was no fluke, with a dynamic 25.93s win to claim the $40,000 first prize.
With speed boxed in one (Ad Astra), three (Barcia Blue Boy) and six (Poppy Jack), just who would reach the first turn first would be crucial.
The trio jumped together and it looked like Poppy Jack would cross, but with the other pair pushing up under him, he couldn’t get to the fence, and was checked trying to do so as Barcia Blue Boy surged to the front, and quickly opened up a good break on the field as they dealt with Poppy Jack being checked.
While the break at the point was vital for Barcia Blue Boy, whether anyone would have got near him regardless, with the time he was running in front, is questionable.
Ad Astra tried valiantly, but like his brother Wow in the heats of the Australian Cup in Melbourne an hour earlier, he had to be satisfied with second placing, 4½ lengths back.
The ever-consistent Ebby Infrared ran home well to grab third after striking trouble when Poppy Jack was checked. It was the 59th time Ebby Infrared has collected a cheque in 75 career starts.
“He deserves all the accolades,” Lagogiane said of Barcia Blue Boy. “He’s probably one of the fastest I’ve trained and that’s not just saying that because he’s just won. He’s put the time on the board every time we have put him around.
“And that’s on three and half legs. He’s got to be written up in the history books this bloke. I’m glad he’s won today.
“He’s maintained ever day (due to injuries). Every time he goes around you’re holding your breath. Every morning you wake up and you let him out, you think is he right? Is he right? But that’s what racing is about, that’s what training is all about.”
Remarkably, Barcia Blue Boy has won his first group race at just start 11. Eight of those starts have been wins with the other three all being placings.
“It just shows his quality after 11 starts to come out and beat a quality field tonight … and that was a quality field
