A night after their top liners were dominating in the Group 1 events at Sandown, the Victorians crossed the border on Friday night and dominated the heats of the Graeme Hull Memorial Gold Cup at WaggaWagga.
Victorian trained greyhounds won all four heats of the Club’s premier event, and six visitors have qualified for next week’s $25,000 to the winner final.
The odd two out were two of the stronger non-Victorians in the heats, JODIE Lord’s pair Winlock On Top and Second Exit.
Husband and wife team of Correy and Samantha Grenfell led the way, winning two heats and qualifying four runners for the final.
Those successes came just a night after their Group 1 winning kennel star Tiggerlong Tonk stormed into another Group 1 final with a dazzling all the way victory in the heats of the Harrison Dawson at Sandown.
On Friday the couple qualified heat winners Usman Bale (pictured), the fastest qualifier in 30.14s and Xavien Bale, as well as runners-up Yozo Bale and Knicks Bale.
Richmond Derby winner Incapacitated was expected to take out the opening heat of the series, but after getting well back in the field, the Justin King-trained dog ran home solidly but too late to grab a final berth.
After jumping slowly, Incapacitated mustered pace and was just behind the leader going into the first turn, but after checking off the heels of the Keenando, he was shuffled back in the field.
As a result of the check to Keenando, Victorian Cha Cha Charlie who had come across from the eight box, was able to cut to the rails and race away to what would be a winning break, scoring in 30.27s.
Knicks Bale ran home well to grab second and a place in next week’s final, while Incapacitated ran home for third.
The Grenfells claimed the second heat when Xavien Bale was able to hold off the fast finish of consistent group performer, Winlock On Top.
After matching it with Russian Sub early, Xavien Bale was able to race to the lead on the turn out of the back, and then had a half length to spare over the JODIE Lord dog on the line in 30.16s.
Winlock On Top is bound to be improved by the run and looked lost at times including when he ran wide on the first turn costing himself substantially.
The first turn again saw trouble in the third heat, when odds-on favourite Second Exit was taken very wide on the track, costing her several lengths.
The trouble left another Victorian, Ulricken Bale well out in front, and while Second Exit steadied and was running home strongly, she had given away too much of a margin, and would only get as close as 4¼ lengths with the winner posting 30.22s.
The dog Correy considered their best hope on the night, Yozo Bale, jumped well in the final heat and was pushing up on the first turn, but his kennelmate Usman Bale got the fly and raced away for an impressive 5½ length win in 30.14s over Yozo Bale who is sure to be improved by the outing.
