Ando’s Mac caused an major upset in claiming the TAB Melbourne Cup at Sandown Park tonight.
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Trained by Jason Mackay, Ando’s Mac became the first New South Wales trained greyhound since the year 2000 to win the world’s richest greyhound race.
“Just to make this final is something else,” said Mackay following the his TAB Melbourne Cup triumph.
“Look at the crowd, the atmosphere is just sensational. I keep pinching myself – I know it happened – but did it really happen? I still can’t believe it.”
Ando’s Mac ($12.90) began fairly but was afforded early room which allowed him to accelerate quickly and lead through the first turn. He opened a two length margin over Barton Bale down the back straight before withstanding a late charge by the well supported Jesaulenko ($5.10) to claim the cup by ¼ of a length in 29.48. South Australian champion Worm Burner flashed home for third a further ½ length behind.
Despite drawing box 5, Mackay was quietly confident his first TAB Melbourne Cup finalist was a winning chance in the sport’s showcase event.
“I had a real gut feeling with this dog. He was so terrible out of the boxes on Melbourne Cup Prelude night when he was last away. He was a little bit better on Melbourne Cup heats night – he came out second last. But I just had an inkling that if he got the start right like he has done back home, then he can run some serious first sections and he showed that tonight. I know there wasn’t a big margin but any margin is all you want.”
Mackay is no stranger to group 1 success, having trained several winners at the highest level of the sport over his extensive training career. However to win a TAB Melbourne Cup was the fulfillment of a live long dream.
“All trainers aspire to win this race, it’s the greatest race on the calendar. I don’t think deep down that you ever think you can do it. I’ve had some really good dogs over the years – greyhounds of the year and track record holders – and they’ve not stacked up because the competition is way superior here than to anywhere else.
“But Ando’s Mac is a wonderful dog. He doesn’t give 80 or 90 percent, he’ll bust 100 percent every time. He’s not the fastest dog around but you wouldn’t swap him for anything, he’s full of heart.”
The win was Ando Mac’s 16th from 29 starts – and his second at group 1 level – with the $420,000 first prize elevating his career prize money beyond $555,000.
During his entertaining acceptance speech, Mackay was full of praise for fellow trainer Anthony Azzopardi (trainer of the beaten favourite Zambora Brockie) for looking after Ando’s Mac during his Victorian campaign, as well as the huge crowd that turned out for the Cup.
Earlier in the night, Wayne Vassallo trained his second group 1 Bold Trease winner when It’s A Bird prevailed in the $145,000 feature.
Did you know?
- Ando’s Mac was Jason Mackay’s first TAB Melbourne Cup finalist
- The $420,000 first prize took Ando’s Mac’s prize money to $556,386 which is 16th on the all-time prize money list
- His sire, El Grand Senor, won the TAB Melbourne Cup in 2010
- He is the first New South Wales trained greyhound since Go Wild Teddy in 2000 to win the TAB Melbourne Cup
- He’s the first fifth greyhound in 61 editions of the TAB Melbourne Cup to win from box 5, and the first to do so in 15 years
- He’s just the second greyhound not coloured black to win the Cup in the last 14 years
- Favourites have now won just two of the last 13 TAB Melbourne Cups
Ando’s Mac wins the 2016 TAB Melbourne Cup
