Rockstar Image Wins Six In A Row For The Second Time
Written By Kevin Pitstock, Editor & Australian Greyhound Racing Expert Contributor On Tuesday 2nd December 2008
For the second time in his so far spectacular career, the budding champion greyhound from Bathurst, Rockstar Image; has put together a six race winning sequence.
This time around though the winning run is all the more impressive as Rockstar Image has won his last two races at NSW Greyhound Racing HQ, Wentworth Park.
Competing last week in a 5th Grade race, Rockstar Image was ultra impressive winning in the best of the night time, running 30.09 for the 520 metre journey after starting a short-priced favourite from the 7 box. The win was all the more significant for connections Nick and Allan Healey, as it fell on the first year anniversary of Julie Healey’s passing.
Julie Healey passed away last year after a short battle with cancer, and the greyhound destined for greatness Rockstar Image made his racetrack debut that very same day as one of Julie’s dying wishes. It is history now, that Rockstar Image overcame enormous trouble in the run that day to blaze away, winning on debut to incredible scenes of emotion that touched everyone on track.
Since his debut win, Rockstar Image suffered a setback through injury, but recovered to set a new Bathurst track record for the 450 metre journey, running 25.70 wining by 7.75 lengths in July 2008 at only his second winning run. That started a winning run that saw Rockstar Image win six consecutive races at Bathurst and Lithgow culminating with a win in the Central West Challenge Series Final at Bathurst in best of the day figures.
Two trips to Wentworth Park, where Rockstar Image missed the start both times blotted his winning form, but after a short let up he resumed at Maitland, where he overcame a slow start to bolt away in the straight and win impressively. Since that run he was has been acknowledged as Bathurst’s best greyhound in racing and has won the Lithgow GRNSW Country Challenge Final.
Rockstar Image made a trip to Gosford just prior to his two recent Wentworth Park wins that saw a whole new crowd of supporters join the “Rockstar Fan Club”, when the son of Big Daddy Cool and Twisted Tears ran an incredible 29.73 on a slow track winning by 13.5 lengths.
That set the scene for Rockstar Image to stage his emotional Wentworth Park debut win, 12 months to the day exactly from his first race start and Julie Healey’s passing. With a host of family members and the ever growing “Rockstar Fan Club” in support, the 31kg red fawn dog raced away to honour Julie’s memory with a six length win.
Expectations were high as Rockstar Image returned to Wentworth Park last Monday night to attempt to put back to back wins at headquarters and to match his best winning run of six consecutive races. A favourable box eight offest the rise in grade to a mixed 4/5th grade event, and Rockstar Image did not let the Healey’s down winning comfortably by 10.75 lengths after gaining the lead early. His time of 30.18 was just outside the best of the night but was highlighted by a very strong last section after moderate first and second sectional times.
Rockstar Image has now raced 18 times for 13 wins and 3 placings and total prizemoney of just over $19,000. Hopefully the Healey’s will have been encouraged by their champions past two wins to give Rockstar Image his first shot at Group racing in the Group 3 Christmas Gift heats set down for Wentworth Park on Saturday 13th December 2008.
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[...] The exciting and talented Rockstar Image, holder of the Bathurst 450 metres track record will contest heat 3 for Allan and Nick Healey, and Australian Racing Greyhound’s favourite greyhound will have plenty of support after being set for this race and coming off a short let up. [...]