Sydney sprinter Bit Chili bursts to the line to win the Group 1 National Sprint Championship ahead of Cranbourne sprinter Pure Burst last week.WITH its gallopers stuck in their stalls with the sniffles, New South Wales greyhounds held up the state’s racing pride on Thursday night when swooper Bit Chili scored a sensational last-gasp victory in the Group 1 National Sprint Championship at Sandown Park.
Local hope Pure Burst began brilliantly in the frantic dash to the first turn before Western Australian Back Tonight took advantage of his favourable inside draw to rail through and lead into the back straight.
Bit Chili, meanwhile, dropped out to a conspicuous last before tacking onto the back of the field.
Despite being forced wide down the back straight, Bit Chili showed tremendous field sense to weave his way through the field and get within striking distance on the home turn.
Pure Burst swept to the lead around the final turn and appeared to have established a race-winning break, however Bit Chili had forced his way between fellow New South Wales sprinter Mandagery Man and the improving Scull Murphy, and in a dramatic dash to the line caught the dual Group 1-winning bitch to win by a head in 29.88 seconds.
The win was just reward for trainer Ruth Matic and owner John Tyrell, who took the unconventional step of sending the chaser to master Victorian trainer Kel Greenough in July in anticipation of contesting the Group 1 feature.
The win was Bit Chili’s 14th in 28 career starts and the $50,000 first place purse took his prize money to beyond $85,000.
The large crowd in attendance enjoyed a stellar night’s racing, in which 10 of the 11 sprint races were won in under 30 seconds.
The first series of Schweppes Melbourne Cup Preludes were conducted with the first two preludes won by National Sprint Championship first reserve Meticulous and reigning Schweppes Melbourne Cup winner Betty’s Angel.
