On face value, Craig Chappelow is a quiet sort of bloke, but he admits he began cheering early when Overflow Beau flew from the boxes and led the field in Saturday’s Group 3 $50,000 Ladbrokes Brother Fox Final at Dubbo.
“I normally don’t cheer too much during the race, but as soon as he jumped, I started cheering,” Chappelow admitted.
“I knew he was going to be able to get across which is all we hoped for all week and once he led I got a bit confident.”
And the confidence was justified. Overflow Beau helped end a run of near misses in Country Cups for his trainer who would celebrate not only a win, but the quinella with kennel favourite and Group 1 Peter Mosman Opal winner Embrace running a great race to finish second.
“I’m just so proud of both of them,” Chappelow said. “Embrace and Beau came close to each other but they behaved themselves to get the quinella.
“Embrace, she’s a been a favourite in the kennel the last couple of years and it would have been lovely for her to get the win but she’s done us proud. A one-two (finish) is a dream come true.”
Chappelow had Overflow Beau finish second to Nangar Jim in the Temora Cup, while Embrace has finished third to Ritza Debra in Muswellbrook Cup, third to Street of Dreams in Gunnedah’s Chief Havoc Cup, while I’m Lovin’ It was third to She’s A Pearl in last year’s Brother Fox.
“I haven’t had a lot of success but I’ve always made finals but I had a good feeling about tonight,” Chappelow said.
“We just needed luck early which we got and he made his own luck after that.”
Much interest was on who would lead and many expected it would be the fastest qualifier from the heats, race favourite and Country Classic winner Bella Una, but Overflow Beau rocketed out from box 6 and was able to cross to the fence at the post the first time.
His kennemate Embrace was quickly into second place with Ferness into third. Bella Una after being slowly away by her standards, was up into fourth and pushing to make her move.
But heading to the turn out of the back the trio chasing the leader jammed and Overflow Beau was able to get away and establish a winning break.
He clocked 29.46s and had three lengths to spare over Embrace with another 1¼ lengths back to Ferness in third, with 2023 Greyhound of the Year Palawa King running home for fourth.
The prestigious $20,000 Bill And Peg Miller Memorial Final was taken out by Spring Commander.
The event is one race which locals mark on the calendar each year, such is the respect for the Millers, icons in the industry, who had a significant impact on greyhound racing, particularly in the Central West.
Spring Commander, trained at Spring Hill by Scott Board, was able to get across from box 8 and find the lead, and once in front was able to stave off his rivals and register his fourth win from nine starts, posting 29.85s in the process.
Second went to Nangar Lady trained by Dennis Barnes, with Dennis’ wife Ann – Peg and Bill Miller’s daughter - handling the greyhound in the final. Third went to the Minnie Finn-trained Zipping Maradona.
“I’m over the moon. To win this race on one of our local tracks and it’s a great honour winning this race,” Scott said. “I have known the Millers since I was little kid.
“This dog is an improving type, and he’s got that bit of pace, and that helps.”
One of the night’s other features, the $10,000 Zipping Kyrgios @ Stud Mega Maiden went to the Bradley Wakem-trained Talk About It who speared to the lead and with the benefit of last week’s heat performance, handled the track much better and raced away to win in 18.31s.
Second went to Jimmy Dollars, with Swift Challenge third.
And the final feature race of a big evening of racing at Dawson Park was the $10,000 Feral Franky @ Stud Future Stars Final which was taken out by the Wes McDonald-trained Fusion Mint who led throughout to win in 22.62s from George Taro, with Ash Tray Change running home strongly for third.
