Emma Pritchard

One greyhound could have been sold early in his racing career.

Another was fortunate to gain a box following two late scratchings.

An emotional trainer was brought to tears, a Branxton household has two reasons to celebrate, and the locals will emphatically rally behind a hometown hero.

After winning and placing second in their respective semi-finals at the Grafton Greyhound Racing Club on June 18, Cash Destroyer, Custard Monelli, Johnny Red, Return Mac, Running Reds, Rushforth Ally, Speeding Fine, and Vamoose, qualified for the $75000 Thunderbolt to be run at the track on June 24, and the chance to add to their own unique stories of success in the world’s richest race over 350m.

Having his first start at Grafton, Speeding Fine backed up a superb win in his Richmond heat on June 9 to become the first runner to qualify for the Thunderbolt on the night, defeating a game Return Mac by less than a length in a time of 20.25 seconds in the first semi-final on the program.

Johnny Red pinged from box 6 and lead all the way to win the second semi-final from the fast-finishing Cash Destroyer, rushing home in 19.89 seconds.

Owned and trained in the Hunter Valley by John Miles, Johnny Red was joined in the Thunderbolt field by a family connection following the running of the fourth and final semi-final of the night when Vamoose, also owned and trained in the Hunter Valley by Miles’ partner Susan Smith, overcame interference mid-race to record a determined win, stopping the clock at 20.23 seconds. 

Having knocked back a previous offer for Vamoose, the handsome white and blue dog has gone on to record 29 wins and 13 minor placings from 52 race starts, earning close to $100000 for his connections.

After Yeager Bullet and Senorita Joy were scratched from the third semi-final, Running Reds secured a berth in box 4, and fought hard to secure a tenacious win in a time of 19.92 seconds from Grafton heat winner Rushforth Ally, trained locally by Desmond Winters, who revealed he was still shaking with nervous energy following the race.

As he held Running Reds for the post-race photos, trainer John Grief was overcome with emotion, describing the Thunderbolt as the biggest final he has ever been in.

The box draw for the Thunderbolt was held following the running of Race 9 on the program.

Johnny Red will begin from box 1 alongside Vamoose in box 2, while Return Mac’s connections had to contend with box 3.

Rushforth Ally was handed a difficult assignment after drawing box 4, with Custard Monelli and Cash Destroyer to jump on his outside from boxes 6 and 7.

Running Reds will start from box 8.

Super Shanks was named as the first reserve, and Loretta Bale the second.

The running of the Thunderbolt is expected to draw more than 2000 attendees to the Grafton Greyhound Racing Club this weekend.