Thunderbolt Next On The Agenda For Vencedor

By Jeff Collerson
Vencedor, who smashed the LADBROKES GARDENS 400m record before winning again there in fast time on Friday, will tackle the 388m Gosford heats of The Thunderbolt on June 7.

Vencedor won in 22.49 over 400m at LADBROKES GARDENS on May 7 before establishing a new record with a 22.29 romp six nights later and then won in 22.40 on Friday.

Trainer Chrystal Hensing said: "He is being set for The Thunderbolt and because he goes just as well at Gosford as he does at LADBROKES GARDENS, he will contest the June 7 Gosford heats.''

Hensing and her late husband Troy Donaldson raced Vencedor's dam Iona Champion, who won 15 races and clocked a slick 29.96 at Wentworth Park.

"Jim Milner bought Vencedor from me when he was just a puppy,'' Hensing said.

"He has not had a lot of luck with his greyhounds so I'm pleased to see Vencedor going so well for him.''

Vencedor's older half-brother Jett The Best is about to resume racing after having just one start, for a LADBROKES GARDENS 400m win in June, 2020.

"Jett The Best is very talented but has had a lot of problems which is why he has not raced for two years,'' Hensing said.

"It won't be long before he is eligible for Masters races!''

The Thunderbolt, the new $75,000 to the winner short course series, will be run as heats at various regional tracks before semi-finals are staged at Grafton on June 11 with the rich 350m final there on June 19.

King Power, a relatively new addition to the Abermain kennels of Steve Burgis, scored his 13th win in 28 starts with a sizzling 31.65 victory over 565m at Maitland on Sunday.

Burgis is now training King Power for his owner Natalie McDonald, the daughter of renowned central coast breeder Lorraine Atchison.

"King Power has won one of five races at Wentworth Park but he is not really comfortable on that track,'' Burgis said.

"Once he gets a knock there he tends to go into his shell but it is amazing what he can do when gets on the lure.

"He got on the bunny at Maitland on Sunday and clocked figures just .45 outside the track record set by Lochinvar Hugo in December, 2017.

"The 565m distance and the roomy track suited him so I will probably keep him going over middle distances for the time being, and maybe he will become a stayer later on.

"For King Power is it all about him getting confidence because there is no doubt he can run.''

Champion sprinter Flying Ricciardo's baby half brother Flying Ryan clocked a nippy 18.58 winning over 320m at Richmond on Sunday at only his second race appearance.

The son of Aston Dee Bee and Megalodon was whelped in September, 2020, and is trained by Sam Sultana for his daughter Kristy, who owned and trained the mighty front-runner Flying Ricciardo.

"Unfortunately Flying Ryan, who is named after my husband, is nothing special and is definitely not in the same league as Flying Ricciardo,'' Kristy Sultana said.