All hail Moraine Suzie… Yes, we have a new staying monarch!
She was the ‘queen in waiting’ after recently reigning supreme in the Group 1 Topgun Stayers.
But the ‘coronation’ was complete after her right royal display in a heat of the G1 Sportsbet Bold Trease (715m) at Sandown Park on Saturday night.
Trained by Brendan Pursell, Moraine Suzie ($2.30F) ruled with an ‘iron paw’ defeating Lakeview Patsy ($7.60) by 8.5L in a majestic 41.33sec – around 3L off the 41.16sec track record, set by Here’s Tears on January 30, 2020.
If we keep her sound and she keeps going like this, we’re going to have a lot of fun.”
She will now attempt to become only the third greyhound to snare the Topgun Stayers-Bold Trease double – a feat achieved by Sweet It Is (2015/2014) and Tornado Tears (2020/2019).
Moraine Suzie, a daughter of 2018 G1 Melbourne Cup winner My Redeemer, notched her 10th win – including six of her past nine – from 28 starts. Her stakes jumped to $144,405.
She will start from Box 8 in next week’s $105,000 to-the-winner final. Incredibly, she’s only had one start from the ‘pink’ alley and finished fifth.
An ecstatic Pursell told racing.com post-race: “When I saw her jump, I thought this is good.
“I was just hoping the eight (Lakeview Patsy) didn’t come across and knock her over.
“She’s done well. The eight has been going good. She likes to hug the fence, she went terrific.
“She’s only two and a bit now, so it’s all ahead of her. If we keep her sound and she keeps going like this, we’re going to have a lot of fun.”
Pursell was also asked: do you pinch yourself, winning the Million Dollar Chase (McInerney) and Topgun Stayers?
“It’s unbelievable, what’s happened, but it is hard work.
“You’ve got to enjoy it. Five months ago, I was having the worst run ever, so you’re only at the top for a little while and while you’re there you’ve got to take it.”
Pawnote: Other heat winners were: Cawbourne Magic (41.56sec), Stagger Out Lee (41.78sec) and Korda (41.84sec).
WATCH: A ‘sovereign’ stayer… MORAINE SUZIE (B3) ‘wears the crown’ as the fastest Bold Trease heat winner.
