EL MAGNIFICO!
Potential superstar Magnificent Tige notched his eighth win from only
10 starts when successful in the GAP Volunteers Grade Five final (525m) at The Meadows on Saturday
night.
Trained by Mark Morrissey of Strathdale, Magnificent Tige snared a
$7000 first prize plus $2400 breeder’s bonus.
Magnificent Tige ($2.40F) defeated Another Gossip ($8.50) by four and
a quarter lengths, with Qayyim Bale ($11.50) a half length away third in 30.41sec.
Then followed: Next Chapter ($11.40), Mopar Bale ($5.50), Coulta Sky
($6.40), Sisco Train ($12.90) and Leica Golden Boy ($15.80).
Magnificent Tige has been in magnificent form, with two wins each at
Ballarat and The Meadows at his past four starts.
The final was the racing highlight of a night dedicated to the
Greyhound Adoption Program, which, since its establishment in 1996, has adopted out more than 3000
retired racers to live out the rest of their days as pets in loving homes.
The Bartolo family of Little River has bred, owned and trained a
myriad of champions including 2006 Australian and Victorian Greyhound of the Year, Betty’s
Angel.
Now they have a ‘new kid on the block’ – Sweet About Me.
And talk about keeping it all in the family – the maternal
grandmother of Betty’s Angel and Sweet About Me (who are half-sisters) is the Bartolos prolific
producing brood matron Leprechaun Miss, who is 13 years old and a family pet.
Sweet About Me already has a ‘champion of the future’ tag bestowed
upon her following a slashing victory in the Advance Pet Nutrition Maiden final (525m).
Trained by Paul Bartolo, Sweet About Me ($1.90F) defeated Tayah Bale
($4.90) by 10½ lengths, with Valk Thief Bings ($33.80) seven and three-quarter lengths away third
in 29.84sec (best of night).
At her race debut 10 days earlier, Sweet About Me clocked the fastest
heat time of 30.33sec. In the final, she improved eight lengths on her heat effort.
Her mother, Leprechaun Flee, only raced on 21 occasions for seven
wins, three seconds and three thirds – including sprint and distance wins at Sandown Park and a
sprint win at The Meadows (29.99sec at her first race start).
The Bartolos landed a double on the 11-event fixture as Talk’s Cheap,
a younger half-brother of Betty’s Angel, took out the Debbie’s 50
th Birthday Mixed Four/Five (525m).
A brilliant and versatile type, Talk’s Cheap ($2.80F) defeated O’M
eley Bale ($18.60) by five and a half lengths, with Ima Pettigo ($13.60) two and a quarter lengths
away third in 30.18sec.
Prepared by Bartolo’s wife Diane, Talk’s Cheap registered his 11
th win (with three seconds and six thirds) from 28 starts. His sprint record at MGRA
headquarters reads seven starts for five wins and one third.
The Brown clan of Lara also secured a double courtesy of litter
brothers Like This and Pako Road.
Like This ($11.30) won the Social Club Grade Five Stake (525m) in
30.70sec, while Pako Road ($5.90) landed the McIvor Road Vet Centre Grade Five (525m) in
30.51sec.
Other winners on the program were: Dante Bale ($4.50F) – 30.46sec;
Gun Hand ($2.90F) – 34.77sec; Big Red Assassin ($4.10) – 43.17sec; Lilley Criminal ($5.80) –
34.44sec; Raffle Bale ($6.70) – 30.28sec; Black Eight ($3.80) – 30.35sec.
