Black Top Review
Penthouse’s Five Star Performance
6 September 2011
All conquering Victorian trainer Jason Thompson claimed yet another feature race final at Betchoice Gardens on Saturday night, with Penthouse an all-the-way winner of the Group Two Multicam Black Top final (515m).
Amid jubilant scenes in front of a bumper crowd, 25/1 chance Penthouse held a 2¼ length margin at the finish, defeating fastest qualifier Fancy Dean ($5.20) to score a career defining win in a speedy 29.53s.
In a stirring display local chaser Devine Law ($17.70) held third for the Parrelli clan, another three quarters of a length away.
With all the pre-race hype surrounding favourite Aston Galilee, most expected Thompson to venture back to Victoria with the $40,000 winner’s cheque safely in his keeping, with a group race win looking likely for the son of Bombastic Shiraz.
In a stirring display local chaser Devine Law ($17.70) held third for the Parrelli clan, another three quarters of a length away.
With all the pre-race hype surrounding favourite Aston Galilee, most expected Thompson to venture back to Victoria with the $40,000 winner’s cheque safely in his keeping, with a group race win looking likely for the son of Bombastic Shiraz.
Unortunately for connections and his legion of followers however, the star chaser seemed to go amiss soon after box rise, failing to get into proceedings as the punters 5/4 elect.
Thompson was full of praise for Penthouse at the presentation, labelling the 16 race winning son of Run’s House, whom Thompson also prepared, as one of the more consistent dogs he’s prepared.
“This dog definitely deserved a big race win and I’m glad to be able to get another group win at Betchoice Gardens,” Thompson beamed.
“To win this race is a big thrill as I’m close friends with sponsors Kevin and Leonie Gordon from Multicam.
“I must say a big thank you also to Kevin and Leonie who have put us up while we’ve been in Newcastle over the past week.
“The staff here has put on a great show and hopefully we’re back next year.”
With a deserved Group race victory now under his belt, there’s every indication Penthouse will now head towards the Group One Greyhound Recorder Paws Of Thunder which commences at Wentworth Park in a fortnights time.
The other feature of the night, the $5,000-to-the-winner Multicam “The Macca”, went to the Neville Brown-trained Dana Travis who came with a withering finish to score in 29.70s.
Fresh off a terrific second to Fancy Dean in the Black Top heats a week earlier, Dana Travis gave leaders Chenzhou Boy and Fancy Will a start and a beating, victorious by three quarters of a length on the wire.
There is no doubt Dana Travis has really hitting his straps and he looks another likely contender for the upcoming $100,000-to-the-winner Group One Paws Of Thunder.
The seventh running of the Multicam Black Top made it three Victorian wins with NSW still just holding sway with four triumphs since its inception in 2005.
Thompson was full of praise for Penthouse at the presentation, labelling the 16 race winning son of Run’s House, whom Thompson also prepared, as one of the more consistent dogs he’s prepared.
“This dog definitely deserved a big race win and I’m glad to be able to get another group win at Betchoice Gardens,” Thompson beamed.
“To win this race is a big thrill as I’m close friends with sponsors Kevin and Leonie Gordon from Multicam.
“I must say a big thank you also to Kevin and Leonie who have put us up while we’ve been in Newcastle over the past week.
“The staff here has put on a great show and hopefully we’re back next year.”
With a deserved Group race victory now under his belt, there’s every indication Penthouse will now head towards the Group One Greyhound Recorder Paws Of Thunder which commences at Wentworth Park in a fortnights time.
The other feature of the night, the $5,000-to-the-winner Multicam “The Macca”, went to the Neville Brown-trained Dana Travis who came with a withering finish to score in 29.70s.
Fresh off a terrific second to Fancy Dean in the Black Top heats a week earlier, Dana Travis gave leaders Chenzhou Boy and Fancy Will a start and a beating, victorious by three quarters of a length on the wire.
There is no doubt Dana Travis has really hitting his straps and he looks another likely contender for the upcoming $100,000-to-the-winner Group One Paws Of Thunder.
The seventh running of the Multicam Black Top made it three Victorian wins with NSW still just holding sway with four triumphs since its inception in 2005.
After the placed runners the field finished in the following order 4
th Sienna’s Habit ($26.10), 5
th Lochinvar Manolo ($11.30), 6
th Smart Sam ($23.70) 7
th Mr. Clydesdale ($4.60) 8
th Aston Galilee ($2.00).
th Sienna’s Habit ($26.10), 5
th Lochinvar Manolo ($11.30), 6
th Smart Sam ($23.70) 7
th Mr. Clydesdale ($4.60) 8
th Aston Galilee ($2.00).
Penthouse is a Brindle Dog whelped July ’08 he is by Run’s House from By Request (Lindale Blue x Roshana Reason). He is trained by Jason Thompson. The Group 2 Black Top Classic win took his record to 58 starts for 16 wins and 22 placings and prizemoney earnings of $104,480.
The NSW NCA could not have selected a better name for this on going feature at the Gardens. Black Top by Top Linen from Classy Jane was an icon of the sport, he was raced by Frank Holmes of Highfields (near Newcastle) and his breeder Mrs. Edna Hanson bred him in Birmingham Gardens the suburb in which the Gardens track is located. He raced in the early 60’s only contested 20 races for 17 wins and two seconds. He retired as Australia’s highest stakes winner with 5352 Pounds. His introductory stud fee set at 65 pound was a record service fee in Australia. A breeding success of extraordinary proportions Black Top created his own
dynasty which continually re-wrote the record books on greyhound racing in this country. The feature races his progeny won and the stars he produced are to numerous to list, he served a record 1326 bitches and sired 6000 puppies earning approximately $150,000 in service fees. There is no doubt we will never see another Black Top, he was the one and only. Black Top was inducted into the AGRA Hall of Fame at the AGRA Awards night at Sandown in March 2008 and again in March 2009 in Perth when he went into the Sires category.
dynasty which continually re-wrote the record books on greyhound racing in this country. The feature races his progeny won and the stars he produced are to numerous to list, he served a record 1326 bitches and sired 6000 puppies earning approximately $150,000 in service fees. There is no doubt we will never see another Black Top, he was the one and only. Black Top was inducted into the AGRA Hall of Fame at the AGRA Awards night at Sandown in March 2008 and again in March 2009 in Perth when he went into the Sires category.
Previous winners of the Black Top
2005 Buddy Rich 29.41,
2006 Mojestic 29.87,
2007 One Tree Hill 29.44
, 2008 Lochinvar Prada 29.65,
2009 Cindeen Shelby 29.64,
2010 Snozz 29.34
2005 Buddy Rich 29.41,
2006 Mojestic 29.87,
2007 One Tree Hill 29.44
, 2008 Lochinvar Prada 29.65,
2009 Cindeen Shelby 29.64,
2010 Snozz 29.34
For more information please contact: Neil Brown GCA Publicity Officer Tel: 03 97691234 Mob: 0423 129 950 nbrown@agra.com.au |
David Simonette GCA Executive Officer simonette7862@gmail.com |