Aston Flame held off My Name’s Stacey in a sensational edition of the Group 3 Northern Districts Cup tonight at Shepparton.
A litter sister to Sandown track record holder Aston Rupee and the talented Aston Fastnet, Aston Flame skipped away to a convincing lead before hanging on in a thriller over My Name’s Stacey, who was aiming for her sixth straight win from just seven starts.
It was a case of girl power prevailing with the four females in the $25,000 to-the-winner final being the first four across the finish line as True Collinda was third and Mania fourth.
WATCH: ASTON FLAME (4) looked home and hosed before just hanging on over the fast-finishing MY NAME’S STACEY (5) in 25.04sec to claim the Northern Districts Cup and a $25K first prize.
A winner of 11 races from just 20 starts, Aston Flame (KC And All x Aston Miley) has been a huge success story for trainer Ian Garland, with the greyhound overcoming a considerable level of timidness as a youngster.
This was her first appearance at group level.
The Northern Districts Cup is a race open to Victorian bred greyhounds with no city wins that have won less than $25,000 in prize money.
It was a huge night of racing at Shepparton, with the club hosting a number of its annual memorial races, and the appearances of superstar duo Typhoon Sammy and Ferdinand Boy, who both won in impressive fashion.
WATCH: TYPHOON SAMMY (7) shook off an early challenge from HILL TOP JONAH (6) before taking out the Keith Warburton Memorial in 25.29sec.
FEATURE RACE WINNERS
Northern Districts Cup: Aston Flame (Ian Garland, Longlea)
Alex Reid Memorial: Rapid Reiko (Deborah Coleman, Lara)
Kel Tremellon Memorial: Shanlyn Hunter (Emma Bowles, Tatura)
Keith Warburton Memorial: Typhoon Sammy (Jason Thompson, Pearcedale)
Doug Ferremi Memorial: Ferdinand Boy (David Geall, Lara)
Les Harris Memorial: More Speed (Andrew Xerri, Merrimu)
WATCH: The 385m track record holder FERDINAND BOY (3) blew away former record holders over the trip, ORIENTAL AMBER (7) and BENCHESTER (8) in 21.33sec, just .02 off the time standard.
