QuanTifiable has become the first bitch since Champion Model in 2017 and just the second in the best part of two decades to win the Group 3 Ladbrokes Goulburn Cup.
On what was a on a bitterly cold day in the Southern Tablelands, the CHRIS O’Brien-prepared chaser scorched her way out of the boxes and led from go to woah in the $40,000 feature final.
“Unreal, fantastic mate…it’s a very big race for the area and I’m only an hour and three quarters away so I’m nearly a local, so I’ll take it as a locals race. But very happy mate, she’s good, very good, and she’s getting better all the time,” O’Brien said.
“She was happy in the one box and when she led, I thought “you beauty”…she might have pulled away a little bit in the straight and I knew I had it…I bought a carton of beer last night and I hoped I’d utilise it.”
The winning time of 24.72 just outside QuanTifiable’s previous best at the track as she held off the fast-finishing Nangar Jim (Jo McFadyen) by 0.75 of a length. Coin Model, a daughter of Champion Model, ran third for Andy Lord.
O’Brien overjoyed with the bitch he bred out of Golden Easter Egg finalist Banjo Tifia, and already planning her next assault.
“If I’m going to race in Melbourne with MorTified [the litter sister] hopefully, why wouldn’t I drag her with me, the same as her brother [Modern Swinger] if he’s up to speed by then,” he said.
“Especially with her at this stage…she’s fit and fresh…she’s adaptable to the one turn and the two turn so she’s pretty versatile…may as well go down with two or three rather than one, make it worthwhile.”
QuanTifiable claiming the biggest race win of her career and coming just a few months after Modern Swinger took out the NSW National Sprint title for O’Brien.
“It’s good for the syndicate. We’ve been involved since 2006, all started with Tifi, and we’re all still together. It’s been a lot of fun and they don’t really have to put their hands in their pockets anymore,” O’Brien said.
In the day’s other feature, Packham Silk jusTified favouritism to claim a gripping edition of the Goulburn Workers Club Fireball.
The nature of her narrow win (0.25 lengths) in a time of 19.84 even more impressive considering not much went right for the Anthony Azzopardi-trained chaser in running.
“I was standing out on the balcony…and I saw the yellow ping [Armatree Cash] in front and I couldn’t see her anywhere and I thought we were gone to be honest, and she proved me wrong,” a relieved Azzopardi said post-race.
“I didn’t think she could come from behind, but she did today…and I’m glad to see that because at least you don’t need to rely on her leading and winning.”
The daughter of Aston Dee Bee and Nangar Silk always loomed as the dog to beat ahead of the series and she confirmed her status as one of the most exciting young greyhounds in the country with her 11th win in just 16 race starts.
It was also her fourth straight victory at the track, and added another Fireball trophy to the Azzopardi mantlepiece after the Victorian claimed the race with Myrniong And All in 2018.
“To win these types of races you need to really prepare them properly for it and everything we did with her was perfect and the result showed today,” Azzopardi added.
“This track’s very tricky, it’s got more bends than the Bells Line of Road I’ll tell ya. It’s a track you really need to have a few looks at…I don’t think one or two looks is enough either. With this bitch here, she needed that couple of looks and you knew she was ready when she started running 19.6.”
Packham Silk is also a litter brother to Goulburn Cup runner-up Nangar Jim, and joins the likes of Apollo Speed, Father Rick, On The Rocks and inaugural race winner Spiders Brother on the Fireball honour roll.
A future over further remaining up in the air for now.
“I’ve got my doubts she’s going to get to 500m, she’s too brilliant early, if she runs 500m, she’s going to be a superstar…we’ll just keep carrying on to the Warragul Cup or something," Azzopardi said.
Best Ever for Patrick Parrelli and Armatree Cash for Peter Lagogiane filled the minor placings in the Fireball.
Anthony Azzopardi was all smiles after winning his second Fireball title
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