Emma Pritchard
After finishing sixth in the inaugural running of the event last year, talented white and blue dog Vamoose returned to the Grafton Greyhound Racing Club a stronger and more experienced performer in 2023, unleashing a brilliant turn of foot to record a powerful victory in the $75000 Thunderbolt, the richest race in the world over 350m, on June 24.
Backing up impressive wins in the Thunderbolt heats and semi-finals earlier this month, Vamoose was the best to begin from box 2 and quickly assumed the lead inside the opening 50m from Running Reds and Speeding Fine before surging clear in the home straight to win by 2.5 lengths, stopping the clock at 19.74 seconds.
Runner-up Rushforth Ally, trained locally by Desmond Winters, started the sentimental favourite in the race and was gallant in defeat, crossing the line in 19.93 seconds.
Custard Monelli from Western Australia, finished a further length back in third.
Speaking from her Branxton home in the Hunter Valley, winning trainer Susan Smith, who also bred, and races Vamoose, said his triumph in the Thunderbolt was her biggest win after being in the sport for 50 years.
Ms Smith told Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) she had always wanted to win “a decent sort of race” and described Vamoose’s success in the feature event as “incredible.”
After declining a substantial amount of money offered for Vamoose early in his racing career, Ms Smith revealed her involvement in the sport is all about having fun.
While she happily celebrated Vamoose’s victory in the Thunderbolt, her partner and fellow trainer John Miles had to watch his $3.20 favourite Johnny Red lose momentum and subsequently finish seventh after striking interference within the first half of the race.
During the presentation ceremony, special guest Robert Macaulay, CEO of GRNSW, congratulated the winning connections of Vamoose and complimented the Grafton Greyhound Racing Club for their state-of-the-art facilities and success in hosting the event for the second consecutive year.
Grafton Greyhound Racing Club CEO Brennan Naidoo said it was wonderful to welcome Mr Macaulay to Grafton, and to see a local trainer (Winters) finish amongst the top three placings in the Thunderbolt.
“It was brilliant to see Des come second with Rushforth Ally,” he said.
“And it was a phenomenal outcome for the winning connections of Vamoose, especially after all the travelling they’ve done with the dog, bringing him to Grafton for the heats, semi-finals, and final.
“It was a great race, and we welcomed a great crowd on the night too.”
More than 2000 attendees headed trackside for the Thunderbolt on the weekend, with hometown country music stars Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley, along with the Eli Fahey band, entertaining the crowd, who jovially raised their drinks and sang along with the performers in between races.