I think considering what we have all gone through in 2021, everyone would agree that a lot can happen in 12 months, and a year ago Wow was at The Meadows beating the country’s elite in the Group 1 Temlee.
While NSW will be well represented in the Temlee this weekend in Melbourne by Zipping Kyrgios, the dog considered by most as still one of our best, will tackle the heats of the Group 2 Bulli Gold Cup instead.
Wow, while just a three months shy of his fourth birthday, is still racing in tremendous form, and could have quite easily have won a group 1 and a group 2 in the past month.
He was just caught near the line by Jungle Deuce in the Group 1 Paws Of Thunder at Wentworth Park on January 22, and after being fastest qualifier in the heats, he had no luck in the final of the Group 2 Gosford Gold Cup on January 4 finishing third behind Zipping Kyrgios.
A stud career does beckon, but not just yet for the big white and brindle dog whose record over the Bulli 472m is impeccable.
From nine starts he has registered six wins: in 26.04s, 26.08s, 26.16s, 26.17s (twice), and 26.26s.
Ironically his fastest two times are both under the 26s mark and both came when he was beaten – 25.93s when second to Good Odds Cash in August last year, and second in 25.97s behind Shima Shine in the 2020 Bulli Regional heats of the TAB Million Dollar Chase.
The Danielle Matic-trained star – who missed a final hitout when the starting boxes malfunctioned on Tuesday at Bulli - has drawn box four in his Sunday heat of the Gold Cup and shouldn’t have too many problems advancing to the $40,000 final on February 20.
Another runner who missed a final lead-up run on Tuesday was Mark Davidson’s Mickey Doo.
He has drawn box 6 in the opening heat and will clash with Matic’s Poppy Jack who has a sub 26s Bulli 472m best time, Paws Of Thunder Finalist Wicked Flash, and Jason Mackay’s Zipping Eve.
The other heat will see the Darryl Thomas-trained Fernando Hunter exit box 6 and he is expected to be very hard to beat.
The dog has been in sparkling form winning his past two at Wentworth Park, the most recent in a best of the night 29.56s.
He will be making his Bulli debut but the wide, open spaces of Bulli should suit perfectly.
Hardest to beat for Fernando Hunter will be Jason Magri’s Zipping Conway who has the one box and won over the 472m at Bulli in a blistering 25.86s back in January.
