What you might have missed – 16 July


Hooked On Scotch was the headline act leading into last night’s meeting and he delivered like a big game performer should.

But his performance wasn’t the only notable performance last night. Here’s a deeper look at Hooked On Scotch’s run as well as a few other stories you may have missed.

 

‘Buster’ brilliant on debut
Hooked On Scotch – or ‘Buster’ as he’s known at trainer Jason Thompson’s home at Awesome Lodge – was simply brilliant in his first 595m start last night winning in 33.806. Here’s a breakdown of where that performance stands:

* 2nd fastest debut over 595m (behind Dyna Double One’s track record 33.630)
* 9th fastest time ever over 595m
* Fastest 595m gallop in 2020 (eclipsing Rockstar Prince’s 33.818)
* Fastest Thompson trainer winner over 595m (eclipsing Extreme Magic’s 33.835)
* 3rd best combined 515m and 595m time (62.745) behind Dyna Double One (62.680) and Dyna Patty (62.731)

Click here to hear Seona Thompson’s thoughts on the run what’s next for ‘Buster’.

Hooked On Scotch - wow wee!

An Ace in the hole
It’s fair to say Weblec Ace was unlucky.

He was only beaten 2¼ lengths by Hooked On Scotch, running 33.995 on his own some six and a half lengths faster than the average winning time for a grade 5 greyhound over 595m (34.33). Two starts earlier he ran 34.092 in a heat of the McKenna Memorial (again beaten 2¼ lengths). Be on him next start!

Flip that around

Trainer Jeff Britton mightn’t have had much luck with Weblec Ace, but he didn’t need it with Mepunga Daniel. After bombing the start from box 1 at his previous start, he made no mistake from box 6 last night jumping straight to the front and scoring in 29.305, the fastest time of the night. In a reversal of the previous race on the card, Black Opium (trained by Jason Thompson) was gallant in defeat running 29.428 which was almost two lengths quicker than any other winner on the night.

Mepunga Daniel defeats Black Opium

Star on the rise
Mepunga Daniel made it a winning double for Jeff Britton. His first winner, Weblec Jet made it three wins from three starts when he won the second race in 29.534 taking just over two lengths off his previous best. He’s a younger half brother to Weblec Ace and looks to have a very bright future.

Weblec Jet makes it three from three

Say it anyway
Can’t Say That caused the upset of the night, taking out race 4 at the enormous price of $32.90.

It was his fifth career win, his second city win and first graded city win. Can’t Say That is the first greyhound part owner Paul Nichols has been involved in, and trainer Corey Fulford’s first city winner.

It capped a big day for trainer Corey Fulford who trains a small team of greyhounds with his father in the small Gippsland town of Bundalaguah.

Prior to the meeting, the Fulfords had a winning double at Warragul making it three wins for the day.

Can't Say That gives trainer Corey Fulford his second city winner

Countdown is on
Rockstar Prince (pictured above with handler Korie Henrich), who had the fastest 595m in 2020 prior to Hooked On Scotch’s blitz, won a very good grade 5 defeating group class greyhounds Spearhead and Last Hurrah.

More significantly, the win was Andrea Dailly’s 991st win at Sandown Park in her career and is on the cusp of becoming the third trainer to reach 1000 Sandown Park wins after Graeme Bate and Robert Britton.

Rockstar Prince was Andrea Dailly's 991st Sandown winner

Click here for full results from last night’s meeting.

Mick Floyd
About Mick Floyd - Mick is the Racing and Media Manager at Sandown Park and has 15 years of experience in the sport. He has a finely tuned talent for finding three legs of a quaddie. You can follow his ramblings on Twitter - @mickfloyd
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