Rod O’Brien had plenty of people telling him why his dog He’s Grand couldn’t win the Group 2 Ladbrokes Richmond Derby on Friday night, but thankfully for him, they all forgot to tell his dog.
In a major upset - at least for punters - He’s Grand led throughout to defeat some of the best male sprinters in NSW and claim the victory at the price of $34.
He’s Grand, who had held the track record on the upgraded Richmond circuit at 29.76s before last week’s Derby and Oaks heats, set up the win with a slick 4.27s first sectional, and once his front his rivals couldn’t run him down.
On the line He’s Grand had 1½ lengths to spare over a gallant Chasing Fernando, with the favourite Zipping Kyrgios storming home to grab third. The winner smashed his own personal best time, clocking 29.49s.
“People were telling me he would get crushed this week,” O’Brien said. “I thought, well he’s got the fastest first section in the race, if he can get out and hold them off for a while, I would be more than happy … but he’s done better than that. He’s killed them.
“We’ve won a lot of big races, but nothing like this, and on our home track too. It feels amazing.
“I’ve got no words. It’s pretty hard to talk at the moment.
“We knew he was something special, we just weren’t sure how special. This was his first test up against some good dogs and he’s come through with flying colours.
“At home he goes into a coma this dog. He’s the most relaxed, beautiful, cuddly dog going, but he’s all business at the track.”
Not yet two years old, and the youngest of the field, He’s Grand has now won seven of his 17 starts and the $40,000 prizemoney escalated his tally to just over $69,000.
Things went more to script in the night’s other feature the Group 2 Ladbrokes Richmond Oaks, with brilliant bitch Good Odds Cash exploding from the boxes and leading all the way to win in a new track record time of 29.24s, eclipsing the 29.31s she posted as record figures last week in the heats.
The Frank Hurst-trained sprinter has now won 23 of her 46 starts with another 14 placings, and amassed just shy of $250,000 in prizemoney, and as the trainer pointed out, that record could be even greater had she had more luck with box draws in big races.
Good Odds Cash again drew awkwardly on Friday night in the Oaks final out in box 7 with a short sprint to the first turn, but she showed dazzling speed, clocking 4.26s to the split to lead her rivals clearly, and once in front that was the end of the event.
She had 2¾ lengths to spare over a courageous Fantastic Raven on the line with Ritza Donna running on for third a further two lengths back.
“You said it, she’s a star,” said Hurst. “This means a lot. We’ve broken the hoodoo of the outside boxes … she’s finally won one off them. It’s cost us a lot of races the draw.
“She handled it. She came across that hard she smashed into one of them and I thought oh no, but she balanced up and away she went, and she broke her own record. She’s flying mate.
“She’s one of the best bitches in Australia. There’s only two or three – there’s Andy’s (Lord) dog (She’s A Pearl), and Wow She’s Fast. Name another one who is up there with them? You can’t.”
