Are Ate In Devonport Cup Boilover
Queensland owned chaser Are Ate provided a major upset at the Devonport Raceway on Tuesday afternoon by recording an all the way victory in the prestigious Dowling McCarthy Hankook Tyres Devonport Cup (452 metres).
The Anthony Bullock prepared son of Lochinvar Marlow flew the lids from box 7 to take up the premier position and was never headed, eventually strolling to a comfortable 25.57 score and paying a handsome win dividend of $23.20.
Are Ate, raced by the Quad Dog Syndicate, was one of three Bullock kennel occupants to qualify for the North West's premier greyhound racing event after running second to the Russell Watts prepared Jeff The Tipster in the previous week's heats.
Most pundits declared the race a match in two between Hellyeah Bolt and Yappin' Jack, but those chasers winning hopes were dashed following an early scrimmage.
The Mick Stringer prepared Yappin' Jack did well to recover and run into fourth placing behind second placegetter An That and the previously mentioned Jeff The Tipster – the Tattsbet First Four paying a massive $21,650.
Anthony Bullock has only returned to the ranks of Tasmanian trainers recently following a three month stint on the sidelines and is currently enjoying a great run of success.
“I'm happy to win a maiden, but the Devonport Cup's at the top of the tree,” he explained after the race.
“I won the Tweed Heads Galaxy race a few years ago, but to win a Tasmanian Cup is far better than winning a race interstate.”
When interviewed last week about his Devonport Cup chances, Bullock declared Are Ate the certain leader in the rich event and it is common knowledge that once in front the majority of greyhounds are in with a winning chance at most venues.
Are Ate will now be aimed at the Launceston Cup series which commences at the Tote Racing Centre on February 3rd.
Meanwhile Tuesday's Tasracing Angus Evans Memorial (452 metres), considered the Devonport Cup Consolation, was taken out by the Shane Whitney prepared Black Rip, which gained a start with the graduation of An That to the main feature.
Heavily supported into a win dividend of $2.70, the son of Goodesy defeated Varcoe and Teddy Tom Boy and recorded a slick 25.48 in doing so.
Raced by the Ripping Syndicate headed by the trainer's father Gavin, Black Rip has now won four of nine Tasmanian outings and is proving to be a worthwhile conveyance.
The big betting Whitney kennel has enjoyed great success in recent years with the likes of outstanding stayers Chinatown Lad and to a lesser extent the bitch Fallen Zorro.
Fastest time for the day at the NWGRC meeting was recorded by the interstate chaser Mighty Lomar, which recorded a sizzling 25.30 in winning the tattsbet. Com Grade 4 event.