Kiwi Thrilling Boris is TAB Melbourne Cup bound following a dominant win in one of the New Zealand’s flagship events.
Thrilling Boris dominated September’s Group 1 Waterloo Cup winning by five lengths in race record time. With the event now on the TAB Melbourne Cup exemption race list he now gains automatic entry into the heats if nominated.
Sandown Park CEO, Greg Miller, was on-track to see Thrilling Boris’ emphatic win and has been in contact with trainer, Karen Walsh.
“It was an outstanding performance – he began well from box five and shouldered his way through, I loved his tenacity to the first turn. It was a star studded field and he beat them by six lengths. He reminded me of El Grand Senor and more recently Unlawful Entry,” said Miller.
“The Melbourne Cup clashes with another of New Zealand’s major races but Karen and Thrilling Boris’ owner have decided to bring him to Melbourne.”
Thrilling Boris will be the first greyhound since Above All in 2014 to cross the Tasman Sea to compete in the world’s richest greyhound race. Miller believes Thrilling Boris will be more than competitive against Australia’s best chasers.
“When any overseas runner comes to Australia, there’s discussion about are their dogs as good as ours. We only have to look at Above All who was a Melbourne Cup finalist, to know that New Zealand are more than capable of producing superstars.”
Miller says Thrilling Boris’ involvement in the TAB Melbourne Cup series will no doubt generate a lot of interest and talk.
“It’s sparks the Trans-Tasman rivalry, to have New Zealand’s best take on Australia’s best is going to be very exciting. It adds another layer of interest.”
Prior to contesting the TAB Melbourne Cup heats connections of Thrilling Boris will be hoping to gain a start in the invitation only Topgun. The field will be announced this Tuesday night on Sky Racing’s The Catching Pen.
TAB Melbourne Cup heats will be run on Friday 11 November, for more information visit www.superdogs.com.au.
Thrilling Boris wins the Waterloo Cup
