2017 Champion Puppy Final - Review
Last night's Cinderella's Commercial Cleaning Group's Champion Puppy final at Angle Park saw an outstanding line up of young chasers gathered together with Paula Hearnden qualifying half the field for the prestigious event.
There were four clear favourites in the market with the Petar Jovanovic trained Cairnlea Gump out of the 1 box, right next door was the race favourite Rhynstone Teddy for Stuart Ellis, the popular pick from the Hearnden kennel was Long Gully Pete in the 5 while the Con Haagmans trained Cooper Scooper was also well in the market despite drawing the pink.
The race began with Long Gully Helen spearing to the front from box 4 closely followed by kennel mate Long Gully Pete and Cairnlea Gump who was pushing up on the inside. Rhynstone Teddy was average away and lobbed midfield while Cooper Scooper bombed the start and was back last early. As the greyhounds raced down the back straight Long Gully Helen was still giving plenty of cheek but was coming under pressure from her rivals while both Rhynstone Teddy and Cooper Scooper began to make ground. As heads turned for home Long Gully Pete had got the better of his kennel mate and ran to the front looking all over the winner with Cairnlea Gump in hot pursuit while Rhynstone Teddy moved to the outside and began to sprout wings. As the top line up of young chasers charged to the finish line, Rhystone Teddy bloused Long Gully Pete right on the line in a stirring finish to win by a head in a solid 30.15. “Pete” was brave in defeat while Cairnlea Gump was close up in third. Cooper Scooper was an eye catching performance in making up many lengths over the final 200m to finish in 4th position only 3 ½ lengths away from the winner.
Rhynstone Teddy is by Paw Licking out of Pearls’ Bonnie and was locally bred by Paul Bodsworth. He is owned and trained by Stuart Ellis giving Stuart one of the biggest wins of his career. Rhynstone Teddy has now won 4 races from his 6 lifetime starts including 1 minor placing and prizemoney of just over $11,000.
