2016 Doug Payne SA Bred Feature Review
2016 DOUG PAYNE SA BRED FEATURE – REVIEW
The 2016 SA Bred Doug Payne Feature was run last night at Angle Park in front of a handy crowd.
Fittingly for the Doug Payne Feature which has a rich history, the event drew together an outstanding line up of some of the best SA bred chasers going around in South Australia all keen to win the prestigious race and claim the $6,000 first prize.
Whilst only a small field of six greyhounds took their spot the depth was of the highest level with all six in great form and all a genuine chance of winning. With such an even race luck would play a huge part along with who could begin the best and it was the Ben Rawlings trained flyer Wilba Beast who got the jump on his rivals and speared to the front. Marlow Brown was in hot pursuit on the rails for Paula Hearnden while Lachlan Brown, Mrs Bubbles, Fabregal and Texas Titan all got tied up leaving the front straight putting pay to their winning chances. Down the back straight Wilba Beast was low flying in the lead with a handy break on Marlow Brown while Mrs Bubbles for Matthew Payne got going again and moved to third. As heads turned for home Wilba Beast was beginning to shorten stride with Marlow Brown running home strongly but the post came up too quickly for him and Wilba Beast was able to hang on for a brilliant all the way win. Wilba Beast ran super sectionals in the lead with splits of 4.33 and 16.70 with an overall time of 29.81. He defeated Marlow Brown by just under 1 length and surely a big race win is just around the corner the consistent Paula Hearnden trained speedster. Mrs Bubbles put up another good performance in top company in running third while Texas Titan rattled home into fourth place.
Wilba Beast took his record to 20 wins and 11 placings from only 39 starts and prizemoney of just over $57,000 with Ben Rawlings having a night to remember with 4 winners on the card including last nights feature.
Doug Payne is one of only four South Australian AGRA Hall of Fame Members and it was great to see a race named in his honor that was so well supported. It was terrific to have three generations of the Payne family on hand for the presentations with the great granddaughter Evelyn looking forward to handing over the winners’ Cup in the coming years.