Gold too good in classic race

DARREN McDonald added the Group 3 Lizrene Classic at Sandown to his booty last week when his recently acquired stayer Texas Gold returned to his devastating best to win the greyhound feature race in 42.14 seconds.
Rank outsider Pyrenees Trend was the surprise early leader as $2.60 favourite Texas Gold dropped several lengths off the back of the field in his usual style.
Despite spotting the leader several lengths on leaving the straight the first time, the reigning National Distance Champion weaved his way past the backmarkers before unleashing his famed finishing burst, sweeping around the field to take the lead on straightening and powering to a 4.75 length victory.
Odnac Alorac was second with Springvale Jinx a further half-length away third.
It was Springvale Jinx’s third consecutive Lizrene Classic final after finishing third in 2004 and seventh in 2005.
Having only his second start for master trainer Darren McDonald, Texas Gold improved his Sandown Park record to four wins, three seconds and two thirds from nine starts and now boasts almost $220,000 in prize money.
In his acceptance speech, McDonald was full of praise for the work of Texas Gold’s former mentor Jason Mackay and paid special tribute to Roma McGuiness, the owner of the great dog after which the race was named.
Texas Gold will now head towards Australia’s richest staying event, the $73,000 Group 1 Radio Sport 927 Sandown Cup in which he finished a close-up second last year.