GREYHOUND RACING
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CHAMPION Cowra trainer Rodney McDonald is ready to launch an unparalleled attack on Wagga's richest greyhound racing event.
Revelling in the record-breaking victory of Cosmic Apache at the dual-code meeting at Wagga Showground on Sunday, McDonald yesterday revealed he may have as many as six entries in the Wagga Cup (525m) heats this month.
"I'll have the four dogs that raced yesterday (Sunday) and possibly a couple of young ones (dogs)," McDonald said from Cowra.
"I'd really like to have a crack at the Wagga Cup.
"(Club president) Darren Hull told me the cup's worth $10,000 this year, which is good money.
"And Wagga's only a couple of hours away it's closer than Sydney."
With the purse boosted to a new benchmark to honour the memory of Graeme Hull, the Wagga Cup is likely to attract quality sprinters from Sydney and Melbourne.
McDonald, however, is determined to play his part to keep the record prizemoney in the bush and continue his affinity with the race.
McDonald will be chasing his third success in the cup after the wins of Dana Gretel (2008) and Dana Beatrice (2009) in the top sprint.
"It's a race I like to have a go at, but I'm sure they'll get terrific nominations," he said.
Heading the cup entries will be freshly crowned Wagga 525m track record-holder Cosmic Apache.
In a sizzling debut at Wagga, Cosmic Apache led virtually all the way to eclipse the Dual-Code Cup (525m) on Sunday, rocketing home in 30.38 seconds, shaving 0.05 off Dollar Bill's old mark.
McDonald yesterday admitted he was "very surprised" by the blistering performance.
"He'd never seen the track," McDonald said.
"None of my dogs had seen the track before Sunday.
"I thought they might as well rather than just come down to trial (before the cup)."
Winner of 13 of 61 starts, Cosmic Apache is a greyhound with "plenty of ability" and a mind of his own, according to the trainer.
"He's a bit of lunatic," McDonald said.
"He's got to be switched on."
Cootamundra-trained Black Texas, who won over 400m in scorching time on Sunday, will also target the Wagga Cup, while multiple Sydney winner Incumbent is on the cup trail as well.