By MICHAEL FLOYD
DIMINUTIVE chaser Got A Moment created history at Sandown Park on Thursday night when she claimed the world’s richest greyhound race, the $500,000 TAB Melbourne Cup.
The least fancied of Pearcedale trainer Jason Thompson’s three finalists, Got A Moment ($11.60) began cleanly from box 2 but was headed by Desalle Bale ($9.20) through the first turn.
Got A Moment railed through to take the lead down the back straight before Hurunui Hitman swept around the outside to assume the lead.
However, the Geelong Cup winner couldn’t open a margin of more than a neck, and on the turn for home Got A Moment again railed through to regain the lead.
In a thrilling run to the line, Got A Moment prevailed by a neck over dual group 1 winner Glen Gallon in 29.37 seconds.
It was a tenacious win for the smallest greyhound to contest the TAB Melbourne Cup series, and her win came as no surprise to her trainer.
“I thought she was the best boxed of our three but everything still has to go to plan,” said Thompson.
“I thought a couple of times she was going to get checked out of it in the run but she’s got a big heart to push through the way she did and then hold off the fast-finishing Glen Gallon.”
Got A Moment only arrived in the Thompson kennel eight weeks ago, having been sent down to the leading Victorian mentor by owner/breeder Dianna Buxton on the recommendation of mutual friend Reg Kay.
Thompson knew from the moment she arrived he had something special. “She settled in so well. We only had her for two days and you’d have thought she’d been at home her entire life.
“Then she started trialling really quickly and we probably rushed her a little bit to get her here. But everything went to plan and she had enough time to have her right for tonight. Everything went perfectly.”
Remarkably, Thompson met Buxton for the first time on TAB Melbourne Cup night. “I’d spoken to her a lot on the phone, but tonight was the first time we’d met,” he said.
“She’s a real character. She’ll certainly enjoy this win, having bred the greyhound and doing all of her early preparation. She deserves a lot of credit, she did a really good job.”
The win was Got A Moment’s fourth in as many starts at Sandown Park and 13th in 28 starts for her career.
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