True Detective (pictured) and Last Hurrah have opened equal favourites for next Thursday’s McKenna Memorial final after a very entertaining set of heats last night.
True Detective produced a typical professional performance when he won the opening heat. He was challenged mid-race by Weblec Ace however ‘Bosco’ responded with a brilliant run home (10.64) and won comfortably by 2¼ lengths.
Up-and-comer Thriving was faultless in the second heat when she led all of the way and did not give her opposition a chance. It was her third win on-the-trot in just her 11th career start.
“She never trials well, but when it comes to race day she brings her best,” said trainer Vince Tullio post-race.
She defeated Gr8 Eight star Last Hurrah and as caller James Van de Maat said “he does not know how to run a bad race.”
The third and final heat went to boom sprinter Christo Bale who couldn’t have made a better mid-distance debut. He was forced to work hard and was still able to set a time of 33.90 which was the night’s fastest.
“When he was three wide down the back I wasn’t quite sure what was going to happen but he handled it well,” said trainer Mark Delbridge.
Christo Bale defeated Wallbanger, a 2018 National Greyhound Draft graduate, who delivered smiles to his hundreds of owners around the country many who are now a part of their first ever group race.
The stage is set for a belting 2020 edition of the McKenna Memorial.
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— Sandown Greyhounds (@sandowndogs) July 2, 2020
And the extremely consistent Last Hurrah is runner-up - both through to next Thursday's final.@NyeBrett 👏 pic.twitter.com/ZzVF3jvLDq
— Sandown Greyhounds (@sandowndogs) July 2, 2020
Mid-distance debuts do not get any better than that!
— Sandown Greyhounds (@sandowndogs) July 2, 2020
Christo Bale absolutely brilliant in heat 3 of the McKenna Memorial - 33.90 🔥 pic.twitter.com/pG1Qu8hZF6
Group finalist... What dreams are made of.. Speechless ❤️ https://t.co/ET2OcEtMXM
— Hannah Woodward (@Woody055) July 2, 2020
Amazing run by Wallbanger at @sandowndogs from the wide draw, kept wide throughout & still ran a strong race to finish second & deliver my first Group finalist as an owner (Panicked as a breeder). Looking forward to the McKenna Memorial draw & final next week. #WreckingCrew
— Brett Osler (@Bosler_Aus) July 2, 2020
Christo bale made some very good middle distance runners look average!
— Scott Wilson (@drscott81) July 2, 2020