A year after filling the placings on a support race, Max Destruction returned to Wagga to claim the city’s richest greyhound race on Friday night.
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After a flying start from box four, Max Destruction ($8.80) still had enough in the finish for an all-the-way win in the Graeme Hull Memorial Wagga Gold Cup.
After defeating El Ay Lucy in last week’s heat, Max Destruction extended his good form at Wagga for Yass trainer Neil Staines in the final.
He held on to defeat Samantha Ferguson’s Batty Allen ($7.30) by almost three lengths, with kennelmate Indi Allen ($17) a further length behind in third.
Owner and handler Paul Blackmore was impressed by the win, as Max Destruction clocked 30.49 in the wet.
“He is a solid dog and has proven it doesn’t matter what box he gets he wants to get to the front straight away,” Blackmore said.
“We knew tonight with the this track the way it is, a bit heavy, the leader was going to win and it proved exactly right.”
It was his first race attempt from box four, but the tricky beginning point proved to be no obstacle as he launched himself to an early lead.
He extended his advantage to five lengths down the back straight and never looked in danger as the rivals closed the margin late.
Max Destruction is building an impressive resume at Wagga and has now won four times from five starts.
His only unsuccessful run was in the Butch Pertzel Memorial Final last year when third behind .
Max Destruction returned to race in a trial for the cup earlier this month and Blackmore expects to see more of him at the circuit.
“Wagga is good for him so it won’t be the last time he’s here I’ll tell you that,” he said.
While there were no locally-trained greyhounds in the feature race, Max Destruction has ties to the Riverina.
Blackmore is originally from Holbrook and he was thrilled to take out the race after never having runner in the cup before Friday night.
“Wagga is a little bit local to me so it was special to come back and do this,” he said.
Wagga is a little bit local to me so it was special to come back and do this.
- Wagga Gold Cup winning owner Paul Blackmore
Meanwhile, Michael Clayton took out this year’s running of the Butch Pertzel Memorial Final (400m) with Cosmic Skittle.
After working his way to the front from box two, Cosmic Skittle ($3.50 fav) proved too strong for his rivals.
Wagga greyhounds Gotta Sideshow ($5.30) and Tiggerlong Bear ($22.80) filled the placings.
After being beaten in a cup heat, El Ay Lucy returned to Wagga for success in the Simaroo Lodge Stakes (525m) while last year’s cup winner Cosmic Prince also won.
