A Small Girl with a Big Engine!
It is not too often you see a greyhound the size of Sutton Sandy, weighing in at just 22.5kg! Out of Fernando Bale x Bombshell Bandit, Sutton Sandy won over the 643m at Gawler on Tuesday for trainer Angela Modra.
Sutton Sandy pinged out of the boxes and put herself 4 lengths in front as they went past the winning post with a lap to go. The fawn girl held on to win in a time of 37.92, beating Darwin O’Conner by 4 lengths, who was whole 9.7kg heavier that Sutton Daisy, or ‘Pockets’ as she is referred to at home.
“The guys that help at home, Jack, Peter and Aaron, call her Pockets, because she was always diving her nose into everyone’s pockets trying to get herself some treats! But I call her Rocket as when she takes off she looks like one!” Trainer, Angela Modra of Gawler River explained.
“Everyone at the track comments on how small and cute she is with her fawn coat and the black around her eyes almost looks like eyeliner. Even though she is cute and is a little pocket rocket with some great speed.”
“She consistently hits 70km/h at our straight track and comes trotting out very happy with herself. Even though she is tiny, she has the confidence of a big 40kg boy!” Modra continued.
Sutton Sandy won her first two races over the 515m at Angle Park and 531m at Gawler, before a toe injury put her out for 6 weeks.
“Once Pockets came back from her injury it took her a little while to get back into the swing of things being a smaller girl. I thought the 643m distance and her speed will allow her the opportunity to lead and hold on, which she did!”
The 2-year-old notched her 5th win over 18 races, with yesterday being her first race over the longer distance.
“We’re looking to run her more over the staying trip following her run yesterday. I was very happy with her run but I don’t care if she or any of my greyhounds win, as long as they try their best and enjoy what they’re doing.”
Sutton Sandy along with the other Sutton dogs trained by Modra are owned by Justin Thorpe who is based in New South Wales, who were over the moon with the win.
Angela is a mainstay of greyhound racing in South Australia having 57 years of training under her belt, having an impressive racing and breeding career.
(L-R) Jack Williams, Angela Modra (Trainer) and Peter Czupak
Photo credit: Kurt Donsberg Photography