By MICHAEL FLOYD
Phenomenal confirmed his status as one of the country’s most exciting greyhounds with a devastating win at Sandown Park on Thursday night.
Having returned to the winner’s list with an emphatic win in the rich City of Casey Cup at Cranbourne the previous Friday, Phenomenal stepped out over the 595m for the first time and proved far too good for an excellent field of middle distance chasers.
Beginning well from box 5, Phenomenal tracked Evie’s Entity out of the straight the first time before assuming the lead down the back and racing to a convincing four-length win over Irish import Razldazl Luke. His winning time of 34.09 was extraordinary given the heavy conditions.
The win was the 11th of Phenomenal’s 21-race career and took his career earnings beyond $39,000. Trainer Jason Thompson has earmarked the Group 1 Sale Cup – Victoria’s richest provincial Cup carrying a $75,000 first prize and the only one with Group 1 status – as the next target for his son of Collision.
Earlier in the night, How Seductive announced herself as a greyhound to follow in the upcoming Group 2 Laurels series when she won her third race in five career starts.
By Melbourne Cup winner El Grand Senor and out of Group 1 winner So Seductive, the immaculately bred youngster led all of the way for trainer Kel Greenough and will be set for the heats of greyhound racing’s version of the Oaks on Thursday 12 December.
