2020 KATE’S A SCANDAL XMAS SPRINT – REVIEW
The 2020 Kate’s A Scandal Xmas Sprint was run last night at Angle Park on Xmas Eve and the festive crowd were treated to another outstanding performance by the Cameron Butcher trained Jack’s Well who continued on his merry way making it a treble of wins.
Having only his 19th start in a race he stepped up to Free For All company for the first time and didn’t disappoint putting away a quality Xmas Sprint field in fine style.
The son of Aston Dee Bee and Molly Be Nimble started a warm favourite after the scratching of Air Marshall (box 1) for Ray Murray earlier in the week. Not noted for his quick beginnings, Jack’s Well was beaten out as the boxes flew open from box 3 with reserve Sutton Daisy for Angela Modra making full use of the inside box to charge to the front, quickly followed by Cawbourne Scar (box 4) for Tony Rasmussen and Spring Burner (box 8) for Greg Board. Jack’s Well copped a bit of pressure early but made his way too fourth along the inside with clear galloping room as they left the front straight.
Into the back straight and Cawbourne Scar railed hard to claim the lead from Sutton Daisy while Jack’s Well moved swiftly into second around the outside as Sutton Daisy dropped back and was challenged by Helen’s Teddy for Bec Romyn who made very quick ground along the rails after a slow beginning while the other contenders jostled for positions. Off the back straight and Jack’s Well had raced clear from Cawbourne Scar while Sutton Daisy was under pressure to hold her position from Helen’s Teddy around the outside and Spring Burner railing hard along the inside. Rounding the home turn and Jack’s Well slipped into another gear and raced away by 5 or 6 lengths with Cawbourne Scar desperately trying to hold down second from a strong challenge from Helen’s Teddy. As they hit the line Jack’s Well had increased his lead, racing away from his rivals in a powerful performance to win by 7.75 lengths in a blistering 29.61, setting a new race record which included a sizzling run home of 12.56. Helen’s Teddy got home strongly into second while Cawbourne Scar held on well for third.
The Xmas Sprint is one race that had eluded master trainer Cameron Butcher on the SA feature race calendar until that was corrected last night. Jack’s Well has now had 10 wins from 19 starts and 7 placings with earnings just over $23,000.
He will be aimed at next month’s SA Sprint Championships when he will take another big step in his career taking on the likes of SA superstars Shadow Mist, Golden Night, Major Major and his kennel mate Coorong Lucy.
The race last night was named in honor of one of the best sprinters ever to come from South Australia. Kate’s A Scandal was owned by Gayle Brown and trained by Howard Gray and in 1981 she was considered the best sprinter in the country. She won 15 consecutive metropolitan races which at the time broke a 30 year record culminating in the 1981 National Sprint Championship held at Olympic Park in Victoria. Injury plagued throughout her career she retired in late 1981 with the impressive record of 18 wins and 6 placings from just 33 starts. Kate’s A Scandal was also named Greyhound of the Year that year.