Kylie Hunt-trained chaser Stoner Bale won Monday’s Cranbourne Cup from Turanza Bale, earning a $30,000 cheque for his connections. Picture courtesy Peter BryceBy Stuart Teather
SONADOR failed in his bid for back-to-back Cranbourne Cup wins on Monday night, ending a fairytale run for the Amy Ralph-trained greyhound.
The Tooradin-trained four-year-old bitch trailed off to finish last in the $30,000-to-the-winner group 2 race as Kylie Hunt’s Stoner Bale blitzed the field for an impressive victory.
Starting favourite from box eight, Stoner Bale — the heaviest dog in the field — led from the first turn to finish three-and-a-half lengths ahead of Turanza Bale, with Vintage Octane in third place.
Remarkably, none of the top three won their heats, and all received their starts as the fastest three second-placed finishers.
Stoner Bale ran second in his heat behind Kendale Bale, Turanza Bale was runner-up to Jason Thompson’s Yikes, and Vintage Octane ran three lengths behind Sonador.
But none of that mattered in the final as Stoner Bale ran home in an impressive 29.92 seconds, a time that would have won any of the heats. Kendale Bale finished fourth, ahead of the fancied Yikes, Beware, Premier Moment and Sonador.
Cranbourne Greyhound Racing Club chief executive Tony Wright, who in last week’s News tipped Sonador for the win, said his pick had a tough run.
“She jumped in front of the field which was a little bit of a surprise because she normally likes to get in behind them and get a nice sit,” he said.
“She got in front and they came hard at her on the first turn … she got squeezed up and spat out the back. I put the ‘mozz’ on her big time,” he said with a laugh. As for the winner, Wright said he was not surprised, adding that it was a very even field. “If you run the race again you’re likely to get a different winner,” he said.
In other news, Jason Thompson’s hearing over his prized dog El Galo returning a positive test for a banned substance is fast approaching, and will be held on 20 January.
El Galo tested positive for N-butyl-hyoscine in October after his win in the group one Topgun, and a subsequent B sample confirmed the initial test.
