Falcon’s Fury further laid claim to being the best sprinter in the state after taking out the $11,000 Dubbo Gold Cup (516m) at Dawson Park on Friday night.
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The Paul and Pamela Braddon-trained star was a raging favourite for Dubbo’s biggest race of the year and despite missing the start slightly he mowed down the field and scored an emphatic three-and-one-quarter length win.
Paul Braddon, more relieved than excited after the event, confirmed his champion will be staying at his Cowra kennels despite the undoubted interest from major trainers from all corners.
“I’ll keep him in my kennels,” he said.
“I think he is the best one I’ve ever had. I’ve had a lot of handy dogs but no real good ones and I think he is a real good one.”
After going within a whisker of breaking the track record in a dominant heat showing last week, Falcon’s Fury began the feature as a $1.40 favourite in front of a healthy crowd at Dawson Park.
There was interest around Mitra ($4.70) and Almost Black ($14.10) and they were among those who started the best from boxes one and two respectively.
But from his favoured box eight it didn’t take long for Falcon’s Fury to get himself right in contention and as soon as he was lurking in second place behind Almost Black in the back straight the writing was on the wall.
As they rounded the bend for home he took the lead and streaked away to make it 18 wins in 27 career starts.
Almost Black was second for John Chapman while Braddon ensured he had another on the podium with Ferrero Miss ($24.30) in third.
“He missed it a little bit and he can do that but he had plenty of room in front of him so that was good,” Braddon said.
“Until he gets to the front you’re never really confident but I thought he had them covered so was quite happy.”
The victory was Falcon’s Fury’s third Gold Cup win in the past six months following feature wins at Bulli and Bathurst.
It also put him right back in the conversation for the best in the state after he ran seventh in the semi-finals of the biggest greyhound race in the state, the $250,000-to-the-winner Group 1 Golden Easter Egg.
“I wasn’t disappointed at the Easter Egg,” Braddon confessed.
“He missed the kick, had a bad box and was in trouble but he just ticks along and everything goes well with him so we’ll keep going.”
Braddon added he might start taking him to Melbourne for a few races in the future as he seeks out the next challenge for his star.
He also added it was Dubbo’s feature race of the year having made the trip to Dawson Park so many times during his career.
“I love to race here and I mainly race here,” he said.
“I like the track and the dogs seem to like it here so it’s been good.”
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
