SAM'S HOMETOWN HERO SHINES
IN RICHMOND DERBY
Londonderry trainer Sam Sultana was sporting a grin as wide as the Nepean River after Mandagery Man saluted in the Group 2 World 4 Pets Richmond Derby last Friday night.
Exiting box three, the locally-trained NSW Greyhound of the Year finalist was a popular winner of the $25,000 bounty against an impressive field in a near track record time of 30.49 seconds for the 535 metres.
In the process, the Steve Goldsack owned son of Token Prince and Eriskay snared his second Group 2 triumph after taking out the WA Derby in 2007.
Rising Lara sprinter Bo Frazier rattled home to finish second ahead of Orphan Point, who was always prominent after drawing the coveted rails alley.
“It was a great run and it's a real honour to win the Richmond Derby,” Sultana said on Monday afternoon.
“After what happened with him in this race last year (striking trouble when disputing the lead approaching the home turn), it was fantastic to see him right the wrongs.
“All the omens were there; he drew the three again but this time he came out in a hurry and got a clear run.
“I thought Orphan Point was going to be a big hope after drawing the red and Lucky Alive was also well boxed in the two.
“Other likes Talks Cheap and Bo Frazier weren't ideally drawn but I was never going to discount them either….it really was a top field from one to eight.”
Sultana believes Mandagery Man's box manners and general relaxed attitude have helped deliver him such rampant success, now being the winner of 24 of his 47 races and around $169,000 in stakes.
“I knew from very early in the piece he was going to be something else,” Sam recalled.
““He went within a whisker of lowering the track record at The Gardens in his first ever start where he won by around 10 lengths.
“Every time I race him, he is always sleeping and in his own little world on the way to the track, conserving his energy.
“But once I take him out of the kennels, he is ready to roll; all business.
“His adaptability to different tracks and conditions is another thing that helps make him a very good dog.”
The veteran handler went onto cast doubts as to whether the white and black sprinter could improve even further, given his phenomenal recent form.
“Apart from one ordinary run at Gosford (Gold Cup Final), he has won seven races since December last year and to be honest, I couldn't see him going much better than what he is at the moment," he said.
“I will give him a few days off now then start preparing him for the heats of the Easter Egg on March 8 at Wentworth Park.
“He enjoys racing at Wenty and all boxes there seem to come alike to him, so boxes would think he is some hope.”
Not for the first time in recent years, the Richmond Greyhound Club put on a great show last Friday night on what is traditionally its biggest night of the year.
GRNSW CEO Brent Hogan and public relations and marketing manager Tony Richens were special guests of the club, as were GBOTA chairman Bill Mangafas and director Sue Absalom and 2KY identities Terry Kennedy, Greg Radley and Tim Newbold.
Recognition of the great relationship between Richmond Club and one of its long term sponsors, De Bortoli Wines, was acknowledged formally when the club bestowed full membership on the company's NSW sales manager Warwick Brook.
Richmond vice president Ivan Tilley said on Tuesday: “Richmond Race Club has had a wonderful relationship with De Bortoli's for many years, initially with Kevin Scanlon, who is now retired and is a director of our club, and subsequently with Warwick Brook.
“Warwick spoke magnificently in his acceptance speech; he is a real professional and with people of his calibre looking after its interests, De Bortoli's can only go from strength to strength.”
Tilley was also vocal in his praise of last Friday night's other major sponsors, World 4 Pets and Globe Memorial Company.
“The Attard family are wonderful supporters racing here at Richmond through their companies World 4 Pets and WAG Petfoods, and their support of the Derby over recent years has seen it reach its current record prizemoney level.
“Globe Memorial Company is a family business run by Peter and Sue Darroch and their son Glen and the Darrochs are great supporters of greyhound racing, not only here at Richmond but also with the GBOTA at Wentworth Park.”
This year's Globe Memorial Super Maiden attracted an excellent field of up and comers, with Paul and Brendan Wheeler continuing their brilliant winning streak in NSW provincial feature races when Furlong Bale (Elite State ex Tally Bale) finished strongly claiming the $10,000 winner's cheque from Smashing Amy and Elvy Bale in 31.11 seconds.
While other racing highlights at a great meeting included Blazing Token's near record 30.47 seconds romp for Max Burdekin, Chevy Miss' 35.70 victory for Michael Manuel and the 35.85 win by Bev and Dennis Mahoney's War Hero in the Frank Kennedy Memorial.
Richmond's next initiative is an `off track' one, with work commencing on the renovations to the Viewing Lounge, which will be completed over the next eight to 12 weeks.
As Craig Youll's photo on this page shows quite vividly, the crowd in the viewing lounge last Friday night was a throw back to the 1970's and 80's and if the Richmond Club is going to continue to attract attendance's as big as last Friday night's on a regular basis, then the improvements will certainly be money wisely spent!
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