How the Cup was won


With one of the strongest TAB Melbourne Cup fields ever assembled, it was always going to take something remarkable to claim the 2020 edition of the world’s greatest greyhound race.

And Hard Style Rico delivered one of the most breathtaking performances of any feature race in history – leading all of the way to claim the Cup in track record time.

Simply, it will go down as one of the great wins in greyhound history.

This is how he did it.

He nailed the start

Early speed is crucial in any race. And while much is made of the first split time, it’s often a greyhound’s reaction time and first stride that determines its fate before it arrives at the marker.

That was certainly the case in the 2020 TAB Melbourne Cup – Hard Style Rico nailing the start and taking the lead before leaving the mat.

Hard Style Rico (5) times the start to perfection to lead off the mat

Acceleration to the first turn

It took just 4.99 seconds for Hard Style Rico to cover the 72m from the boxes to the winning post. It was a length faster than his previous best (5.05 set in the heats), and was the third fastest ever run in a Cup final behind Black Magic Opal (4.93) and Got A Moment (4.97).

Importantly, he beat out those drawn inside allowing him to cross to the rail through the first turn.

Hard Style Rico (5) gets a clear run to the first turn

An elite middle section

With a clear run through the catching pen, Hard Style Rico quickly established a race winning break while carving out an elite middle section.

Hard Style Rico’s 18.41 to the second marker has been bettered only by Fernando Bale (who has gone 18.36, 18.38 and 18.41) – and was 0.16 (almost three lengths) faster than Black Magic Opal’s 18.57 previous Melbourne Cup split record.

His middle section of 13.42 is just 0.02 seconds outside of Simon Told Helen’s unofficial section record.

Hard Style Rico leads clear through the first turn to set up a race winning break

Finished off in Style

With such a margin at the second split, it was always going to be a big ask for any greyhound to catch Hard Style Rico. It was a task made that much harder by his strength at the end of the run.

His run home time of 10.499 was the second fastest ever in a Cup final, beaten only by Dyna Double One’s 10.36 (approximate) when he caught Fernando Bale in the epic 2015 Cup.

Hard Style Rico (5) storm home to TAB Melbourne Cup glory

The fastest of all time

Hard Style Rico’s overall time of 28.909 shaved 0.03 off Hooked On Scotch’s previous track record set in a heat of the 2019 TAB Melbourne Cup. He’s the seventh greyhound to break 29 seconds at Sandown Park.

The two fastest greyhounds in history did it in very different ways.

Greyhound 1st split 2nd split Middle section Run Home Overall
Hooked On Scotch 5.11 18.61 13.5 10.329 28.939
Hard Style Rico 4.99 18.41 13.42 10.499 28.909
Difference -0.12 -0.20 -0.08 0.17 -0.03
Hard Style Rico (5) runs the fastest 515m ever at Sandown Park

The second track record in a Melbourne Cup final

Hard Style Rico is the second greyhound to set a track record in a Melbourne Cup final.

In 1988, Hua ran an unprecedented 30.01 to claim the world’s greatest greyhound race at an average speed of 61.3kph for the 511m journey.

In 2020, Hard Style Rico completed the 515m trip in 28.909 at an average speed of 64.1kph.

Hua sets a new track record when winning the 1988 Melbourne Cup

Following his record breaking run, trainer Luckie Karabitsakos announced the 2020 TAB Melbourne Cup would be Hard Style Rico’s last, the new track record holder being retired to stud duties.

 

Click here to learn more on the 2020 TAB Melbourne Cup.

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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