Lady Toy had Sandown Park buzzing with a sensational win in her heat of the McKenna Memorial tonight.
Switching back to the middle distance journey following her recent staying campaign, the well supported second favourite jumped cleanly to sit third behind early leaders What’s Chewing and Kilkee Flex through the first turn. She swept past Kilkee Flex heading onto the back straight, and despite spotting What’s Chewing a six length break, powered home to score a by a length in 34.06, the fastest time of the night.
“She was impressive,” said trainer Brook Ennis.
“She came off what I thought were a couple of terrible runs in Brisbane (where she third in both finals she contested), and we weren’t overly happy with her trial here on the weekend but she jumped well, landed in a good spot and got a nice clean run through the field.”
Lady Toy is yet to break through in seven attempts at group level, but has been placed on six occasions including running second in four group 1 finals. Despite failing to break through at the highest level, Lady Toy has accumulated $287,472 in prize money.
“I shouldn’t complain should I!” said Brooke with a laugh.
“She keeps going so well. To keep running second and third at group level shows she’s a very good greyhounds, but she’s just short of the top liners.
“She needs that nice clear run early because she lacks that bit of early pace. And like most stayers, she goes better when they have something to chase.”
And she’ll have something to chase in the final. Drawing box 3 – the same box from which she won her heat – Lady Toy will be under pressure early with Lektra Concord (box 2) and Ballerino (box 4) both running four lengths faster to the post the first time in their respective heats.
Other heat winners Mepunga Tiara (which ran fourth in this race in 2014), Spring Leaf and Know Danger are all experienced at group level ensuring an enthralling final.
The $58,000 group 2 McKenna Memorial is named in honour of the first secretary of the Sandown Greyhound Racing Club, Jack McKenna, who was a leading administrator in the sport for 36 years. First run over the staying distance in 1971, the race switched to 595m in 2010 and is now the club’s premier event over the middle distance.
Click here for full results from tonight’s meeting.
Click on the links below for a replay of each heat.
Heat 1 (Mepunga Tiara, Lektra Concord)
Heat 2 (Know Danger, Morningside)
Heat 3 (Ballerino, Waymore’s Blues)
Heat 4 (Spring Leaf, Zipping Maggie)
Heat 5 (Lady Toy, What’s Chewing)
A touch of Las Vegas comes to Sandown Park on 9 July with a Johnny Cash tribute, table games and our ‘Dollars for Dinner’ promotion. Limited tables remain, $65 per head includes buffet meal, beer wine and soft drink. Contact the club on 9546 9511 to secure your table.
