Long-time owner Bob MacMurray is celebrating his 81st birthday in style today after his charge, Rushforth Ally, obliterated the Grafton 350m track record on Sunday evening.
The Dessie Winters-prepared speedster stopping the clock in 19.52 to smash the previous mark of 19.64 set by Cash Master in 2022.
The time a personal best by more than three lengths for last year's Thunderbolt runner-up.
“It was a pretty good win wasn’t it,” MacMurray said proudly on Monday morning.
“I’ve had that many dogs in my time it’s not funny and I’ve only ever had one other track record holder. It was Skycraft at Coonamble about 20 years ago and he only held it for five races before my mate Micky Hodges' dog beat it.”
“But this bloke [Rushforth Ally] goes good, I suppose he’s one of the best I’ve had. I won a Group 3 Bulli Gold Plate with Hoover Boy. I won the Future Stars Maiden with Webbie’s Star and I had a bitch called Sky Jewel who could run from 300 to 700. He’s right up there with them.”
The Western Sydney resident pleased Rushforth Ally has made the most of his potential after struggling to breakthrough early in his career.
“It took us nine races to win a maiden and that was a lot longer than I normally like but he’s always had ability,” MacMurray added.
“I bought the dog off Geoff Sattler who bred him out of a bitch called Len’s Pick and his career has been good so far. He’s won 19 races now and has some good toe.”
Rushforth Ally has now won more than $57,000 in career earnings
“And Dessie and I have been friends for about 40 years and he's done a great job. Des lives at Rushforth and he’s got a mate called Ally so that’s how I named the dog as well."
Winters tickled pink with the result and happy to chalk up a memorable milestone after 32 years on the collar and lead.
“It’s my first ever track record and I was deadest in shock. It’s a very nice feeling though and a bit of a thrill,” Winters said.
“I was a little bit surprised he went so quick, but the track was in good condition, and he did everything right. He timed the start and once he hit the lead, I knew it was pretty well over.”
“I gave him a few runs at Casino last month and that track doesn’t really suit him because he needs to wind up. So I brought him back to Grafton, he got some confidence with a good win two weeks ago and it’s just carried over.”
“The rest of the trainers were just as excited as me and it was nice to share the moment with my daughter, Samantha Delaforce, who caught him as well.”
The 69-year-old putting Thunderbolt plans on ice for now, instead setting his sights on a rich new race in the Northern Rivers.
“We’ve got the new Jack Somerville top grade race coming up. The heats of that are over 450m at Grafton in April and it's worth a bit of money,” Winters added.
“And if all things are going well after that, we might try and freshen him up a little bit for The Thunderbolt later this year because he does love racing at Grafton.”
The ‘best 16’ heats of the Jack Somerville Northern Rivers Cup will be held at Grafton on April 14 and Casino on April 16. The first two from each heat will progress to the $50,000 final on April 20.
The third edition of The Thunderbolt kicks off in Wagga Wagga on May 31, with the $75,000 final slated for June 22 at Grafton.
