Caption: ‘Team Sharp’ with Stormy Day after victory in the recent Group 1 Harrison-Dawson at Sandown Park. (Photo: Jason Mckeown)
Victorian News With ETHAN CHRISTIAN
Having never won over the distance in her racing career, Irish Millie crossed the line first when it mattered most in the $175,000-to-the-winner Group 1 Sandown Cup to add her name to one of the most illustrious honour rolls in greyhound racing.
In what was a busy finish, ‘Millie’ took advantage of clear air towards the middle of the track, clinging on to a small margin victory over Canya Amy.
A relatively new addition to the Stephen Whyte kennel, who only has three dogs in work at present, ‘Millie’ has flourished with a change of scenery, which has included three wins from her last five starts.
Albeit a slight surprise to punters, saluting at 24-1 on the local tote, Stephen Whyte and connections will dare to dream as to what other races they can target with their new staying hero.
Milli’s the Head That Wears the Crown
Here Comes Milli secured Des Douch’s first Group 1 winner in stellar fashion, pinging the lids and leading all of the way to land the Sapphire Crown, stopping the clock at 29.39s.
Unplaced in her two other attempts at Group level, the third time was the charm as Milli put her customary early speed on show for all to see to score by over a length over Granny Roses.
It’s not often you can say a Group 1 winner may be living in their sibling’s shadow, with Here Comes Milli a littermate to the Jason Thompson trained Explicit, but Des Douch can be justly proud of his efforts having bred the Sapphire Crown winner himself, out of a bitch he also bred and trained in Brueghelino.
A Group finalist in her own right, Brueghelino contested 5 Group level races, including three at Group 1 level, but it is her offspring that have gone on to go one better to secure those much sought-after races.
For a line that he has bred, developed and trained himself, success at the highest level is nothing short of deserved for Douch.
Sharps Take the Spoils
It was a Harrison-Dawson to remember for Jason Sharp and his family, as they rugged up three of the eight greyhounds in the $100k to the winner Group 1, with all three finishing in the top four placings.
Stormy Day, however, was the one to fly the flag on the night, as the 40-1 outsider stepped impressively from box six to cross the field, and successfully hold off a late charge from the Jason Thompson-trained Flying Zulu in 29.29s.
Morton, litter brother to Stormy Day ran into third, with the remaining member of the Sharp-trained trio, Afire, getting into fourth.
While Morton has been the most forward and fastest of the two litter stars to date, the Sharp family have made no secret about the talent that Stormy Day holds, often detailing how the latter broke in faster in their early days.
Having struggled to make a consistent go of some fast wins, Stormy Day made no error when stepping up to the task on Harrison-Dawson night, successful at Group level at the first time of asking.
Victory in the Harrison-Dawson secured Team Sharp their second-ever Group 1 only three months after their first after Morton was victorious in the Gold Bullion at Albion Park in February.
Matt Loch Ascends to Warrnambool Throne
Wedged into the middle of the Warrnambool Horse Racing Carnival, a large crowd descended upon the Warrnambool Greyhound Complex to witness a tremendous night of chasing.
Pass Mark claimed the Jack Daffy Memorial staying feature over 650m with a gutsy come-from-behind win for Jeff Britton, while Quinlan Bale also made his run from the rear to take out the Stan Lake Memorial over 450m for Team Gibbons. Group 2 Warrnambool Cup honours, however, belonged to Michelle Malia, as Matt Loch elevated his elite provincial form to claim Group level glory.
Beaten by the barest of margins in his heat (0.01L) when attempting to run down Flying Zulu, he was able to qualify for the final as the fastest second-placegetter.
The young star witnessed a change of fortunes in the final, as he snuck underneath initial leader and kennelmate Fernando Phil to assume control of the race turning for home.
Speaking with Chase Magazine back in April, Matt Loch’s trainer Michelle Malia reserved special praise for the young chaser, labelling Matt Loch as ‘special’, and he has since gone on to live up to Malia’s expectations.
His tremendous form continued throughout May, as he went on to claim the Group Listed Western Districts Derby Final out at Ballarat.
Having won his heat in a slashing 24.83s, Matt Loch stepped from a favourable box one draw to lead all of the way in 24.79s, defeating a very impressive Vincent Bale who stormed into second for Samantha Grenfell.
Malia is expected to take the son of Aussie Infrared to both the Ballarat Cup and Pink Diamond Champion Sprinter series, of which on current form, she can expect to be in with a big chance of securing more Group level success.
Country Racing Update
The Ballarat Cup, which will be staged as Chase Magazine goes to print, brings the country cup season in Victoria to a close, with the attention across the provincial racing circuit now firmly on the lucrative Pink Diamond series.
First staged in 2021, the series is open only to Victorian-bred greyhounds and offers events that cater to all greyhounds, with varying distances and grade brackets.
Warragul and Ballarat will host heats on Thursday, June 6, while Bendigo and Geelong will stage their heats on Friday, June 7, all culminating in a stellar finale of chasing at Shepparton on Saturday, June 15.
All twelve finals are at Group Listed level and have historically attracted a plethora of talented chasers; the 2023 series alone unearthed Mepunga Smokey as he won the Group Listed Maiden Sprint Final, with Rookie Series victories to both Navarino and Exploded over their respective distances.
With an honour roll boasting the likes of Shima Shine, Ferdinand Boy, Transponder, Mepunga Ruby, Moraine Suzie and Koblenz, the 2024 instalment promises to be enthralling.
