By MICHAEL FLOYD
SWEET It Is rewrote the record books at Sandown Park on Thursday, defending her RSN Sandown Cup title and becoming the sport’s highest earning greyhound in the process.
Lining up in her 18th group final – her 10th at group 1 level – Sweet It Is was sent to the boxes a $5.80 second favourite behind Space Star ($1.30), and it was the latter that began brilliantly to take an early lead. Sweet It Is has been well known to drop back to the rear of the field early in her races, however on this occasion she was handy to the leaders when passing the winning post the first time. When Space Star found trouble approaching the back straight, Sweet It Is then made her move.
The daughter of Mogambo showed great track sense to weave through the field to hit the lead and race away to become the fifth greyhound to defend her Sandown Cup title.
Despite being three-and-a-half years of age, her winning time was just half a length outside her best time at the View Road circuit (41.69).
“I didn’t watch the first hundred meters,” said her emotional trainer Braden Finn.
“I closed my eyes and when I opened them and saw her in fourth place I thought she might be a chance.
“Then there was bit of a jam up front and fortunately she’s pretty smart in a field and could get around them.
“She’s an amazing dog, she never ceases to amaze me… she tries her heart out every time and to do what she did tonight (Thursday) at her age in an amazing effort.”
Sweet It Is powered to the line six lengths clear of Lady Toy, who finished second in a Group-1 final for the fourth time in her career.
The win improved her record to 18 wins from 58 starts and the $175,000 winner cheque took her prize money to an Australian record $828,515. It was her fifth Group-1 title – her third at Sandown Park – and she becomes the fifth greyhound in history to win consecutive RSN Sandown Cups. She now boasts an impressive record of eight wins and five placings from 15 starts over Sandown Park’s famous half-mile.
Interestingly, it was the first time she’d won a group final after winning her heat, and just the sixth time in her 58 start career that she’d won consecutive races.
Assuming she pulls up well from her record breaking run, Sweet It Is will fly to New Zealand for the $80,000 (NZ) to the winner Silver Collar which commences on Sunday 31 May.
Earlier in the night, Fernando Bale made it 10 wins in a row with a barnstorming all of the way win in the $36,000 Group-3 Bill Collins Memorial.
