While it may have been an upset result for punters, Mick’s Angel provided her owner and trainer a moment on unbridled joy at Sandown Park last night.
Jumping from box 3, Mick’s Angel jumped cleanly before settling in her customary position towards the rear of the field. With a lap to go, she spotted the leader seven lengths before making her move down the back straight. She railed strongly approaching the home turn to move into second place before unleashing a powerful finishing burst and sweep past early leader Allen Lottery to win the 715m event by half a length in a slick 41.76 seconds.
For ecstatic trainer Allan Meyer, the win was one of the most satisfying moments in a training career that’s spanned the best part of two decades.
“I’ve had three seconds but I’ve never won one here on a Thursday night. It’s an honour, I’ll give you the tip,” he said after the obligatory post-race winner’s photo.
“You know how you like to tick things off in your life? Winning at Sandown is one of those boxes ticked. My wife Kaye and I only have two dogs, but they’re our life. I’m retired, I get up in the morning and look after the dogs. We’re just really happy.”
While Mick’s Angel’s breakthrough win was a career highlight for the successful trainer, it was an emotional victory for her owner, Faye Craig.
“Faye is one of the best owners a trainer could ask for,” Meyer continued.
“I met her husband Brian – ‘Mick’ as he was known to his mates – at the Hoppers Club and we raced a greyhound named Mick’s Lady. She won six races and we had a lot of fun with her.
“Brian went to buy a half-brother to Mick’s Lady and when he went to go see him, a litter-sister was in the trailer. Faye wanted to see her and despite Brian saying they were only interested in the dog, Faye took one look at her and insisted they buy her too. As it turns out, the boy wasn’t much good but the girl (Mick’s Angel) has been pretty good.”
Faye has always had a close bond with Mick’s Angel, a bond that only strengthened since Brian’s passing and one that no amount of money could break.
“She took over ownership when her husband Brian passed away. She’s really into the horses, but she loves this dog. It’s her pet, she’s knocked back some big offers – $30,000-$40,000 – and she’s just said, ‘no she’s not for sale.’ She even has a pool in the backyard just for her – the kids aren’t even allowed in it!
“I’m just really rapt for her, and for Brian.”
The win was Mick Angel’s 8th victory in 48 career starts – his first from 10 starts at Sandown Park – and picked up $6120 in prize money. Sent to the boxes a 20/1 chance, Meyer says he had ‘a little bit’ on her but his good mate Darren Beazley wasn’t as confident.
“Darren and I take it in turns to take a quaddie. It was his turn this week but he took the favourite one-out and left her out!”
Meyer will now look to the final leg of the Gippsland Carnival stayers series before tackling the RSN Racing and Sport Sandown Cup – the world’s richest race for stayers – in which Mick’s Angle ran fourth in a heat in 2016.
Mick’s Angel flashes home to give Allan Meyer his first Sandown winner
.
