Leading Cranbourne trainer Darren McDonald with the winner of last Thursday’s $50,000 Group 2 Lechte Nissan Shootout, Bond.Bond broke the track record for the 515metre course, running a sensational 29.38 seconds on a slightly soft track.By Brad Kingsbury
LEADING greyhound trainer Darren McDonald labelled exciting New South Wales dog Bond as the fastest in the land after its record win in the Lechte Nissan Shootout at Sandown Park on Thursday.
Bond has been in the McDonald kennel for only two weeks and ran a withering 29.38 seconds for the 515-metre course, breaking the great Whisky Assassin’s track record of 29.40 set in last year’s Topgun.
“It was a new track record and that’s unbelievable because the track wasn’t quick,” McDonald said. “He’s possibly the fastest dog in Australia and he proved it.
“He’s still got a bit to live up to before he can be rated better than his father (Brett Lee), but he’s on his way.”
The Group 2 winner-takes-all feature race was the highlight of a big card at Sandown with four dogs invited to compete for the $50,000 on offer.
After jumping away brilliantly from box seven, Bond ($2.90) raced away from kennelmate and favourite Pure Octane ($1.80) to lead the field into the first turn, and extended his lead, going on to break the hearts of his rivals.
Trewly Special finished a gallant second seven lengths adrift of Bond, with Lord Monelli a further half length away in third.
McDonald was selected to train Bond by owners Bruce and Julie Fletcher after his stunning season, which has included five Group 1 victories.
“Bruce just gave me a call and asked me if I’d be interested in training it,” McDonald said. “Six months ago everybody was calling this a million-dollar dog but he had a few hiccoughs in Sydney with the boxes and didn’t seem to handle Wentworth Park. They opted to send him down for this series and now he’s got one leg of it.”
The win was Bond’s 11th from 17 starts and took his career prize money to more than $70,000.
He will now progress to the heats of the $214,500 Group 1 Schweppes Melbourne Cup to be held tonight (Thursday).
McDonald said Pure Octane was not suited by the soft track conditions last week, but would also progress towards the Melbourne Cup.
