Mepunga Hayley Deserved Winner Of 2014 Group One Maturity
Jeff Britton has capped off a remarkable night of racing for his team of greyhounds by taking out the Group One Maturity at The Meadows with Mepunga Hayley. Earlier in the night , Britton and Mepunga Tiara secured the Group Two Victorian Distance Championship final.
Britton told ARG earlier in the week that Mepunga Hayley deserved to win the final and the Bekim Bale and Mepunga Harmony (Pure Octane – Mepunga Shiraz) bitch certainly didn't disappoint.
Jumping from box eight, Mepunga Hayley was handy but it was Take Charge (3) who took the early lead. Favourite Hooksy (7) was slow to begin, as was Grand Legacy (6) and Sisco Rage (1). Neither of this trio was able to factor in the finish, with Hooksy finishing down the track in seventh.
Mepunga Hayley headed Take Charge coming off the back straight and streaked away to score by three and a quarter lengths in a personal best 29.78. Shoulders (2), who was positioned well in the early stages, got home for second for Anthony Azzopardi. The Andrea Dailly trained Humphrey Bale (5) finished strongly for third.
Mepunga Hayley, owned by Barry Smith, has now won 10 from 20 and over $160,000 in prizemoney and is one to follow closely for the remainder of her career.
Full Results
1st: Mepunga Hayley (8) – Jeff Britton
2nd: Shoulders (2) – Anthony Azzopardi
3rd: Humphrey Bale (5) – Andrea Dailly
4th: Take Charge (3) – Stephen McKenna
5th: Sisco Rage (1) – Darren McDonald
6th: Lamia Bale (4) – Steven Collins
7th: Hooksy (7) – Tanya Auld
8th: Grand Legacy (6) – Peter Dapiran
Time: 29.78
1st split: 5.06
2nd split: 17.81
Margins: 3 1/4 x 2
Scratchings: Trail Blazing (9) and Wind Whistler (10)