“Too fast and too good.”
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That was how Armidale Greyhound Club president Garry Carson described Specs Valley’s Armidale Cup-winning run on Saturday.
The Albert Zarb-trained flyer jumped from box two to the front of the field and was never in doubt, still pulling away from the field as she crossed the line four lengths in front of Gary Streatfield’s Kay Oh.
“She went straight to the front and kept running,” Carson said.
“I think she only missed the track record by less than a tenth of a second.”
The 30.15 second 520m sprint was 0.23 seconds faster than her qualifying time, where she was already half a second quicker than her closest rival, heading into the Cup at almost unbackable odds of $1.20.
“There was no competition,” Carson said.
“She jumped to the front and never looked like getting beaten.”
While it was the first time that Clarence Valley-based trainer Zarb has had a runner in the cup, it is not the first time he has tasted success at the track.
“He (Zarb) hasn’t been for a while but he told me over the years he has brought seven dogs to Armidale for the Cup Carnival and got six winners.”
“He is a very good trainer.”
Casino trainer Streatfield picked up both places with Kay Oh’s full sister Miss Glenreagh coming in third, five lengths behind the winner and one behind her sibling.
“Garry (Streatfield) has picked up a few places in the Cup over the years but he hasn’t managed to win one,” Carson said.
The day included three big finals, with Armidale trainer Denis Nixon picking up the AGRC 1-4 Wins Stakes from box one with Orrara Ell, beating fellow New England trainer Arthur Wright’s Gamblers Note past the post.
Another northern rivers trainer, Robert Alchin, picked up the Mitchell Family Sprint Final, with Cosmic Taleya making the final her third win in as many weeks at the track, beating Werris Creek trainer Peter Midson’s Shaylor Binny to the line by two lengths.
“It was great to see a few locals get a win and some places,” Carson said.
“We have had very good fields this year and we have also had a lot of people comment on how good the track and club has been over the carnival.
“Now I just hope they keep coming back.”