Victorian champion Wow She’s Fast became the first greyhound in the world to surpass $2 million in prizemoney when going back-to-back in the $1.65 million The Phoenix (525m) on Saturday night.
The Meadows erupted in a sea of blue (the colours of victorious slot holder Sportsbet) after Wow She’s Fast held favourite Amron Boy at bay in a thrilling finale to the inaugural $4.1 million Sportsbet Dream Chasers Festival.
“I can’t believe it. That’s a million dollar race.That’s stupid money!” a delighted Jackie Greenough, who trains Wow She’s Fast in partnership with husband Kel, told Corey Smith on Racing.com’s coverage.
“I’m speechless. I’m literally speechless. Unbelievable.”
“We always had faith in the girl and she’s produced it again on the big night.”
Wow She’s Fast went into the $1 million to-the-winner The Phoenix, the world’s richest race, with career earnings of $1,258,570, with The Phoenix rival She’s A Pearl holding the national record with $1,376,470.
A star was born when Wow She’s Fast won the inaugural The Phoenix in 2021, when also representing Sportsbet, running 29.66sec at just her seventh start as an $11 chance.
Second time around, Wow She’s Fast, now a dual G1 winner, started at $6.60 from box 6, with Brooke Ennis‘ Amron Boy (box 4), near-record winner of the G1 Silver Chief at The Meadows one week earlier, $2.90 favourite, ahead of NSW superstar She’s A Pearl (box 1) at $3.30.
She’s A Pearl led from the rails alley, while Wow She’s Fast was able to cross into second place going into the first corner, in almost the identical position to where she was 12 months earlier.
Wow She’s Fast railed under She’s A Pearl turning for home but then had to stave off a desperate late challenge from the fast-finishing Amron Boy, scoring by a head in 29.84sec, with She’s A Pearl third.
WATCH: WOW SHE’S FAST (B6) got the better of SHE’S A PEARL (B1) before holding off AMRON BOY (B4) in a thrilling finish to the second running of The Phoenix, scoring by a head in 29.84sec.
“We always had faith in the girl, and she’s produced it again on the big night, which is what you want them to do,” Kel Greenough said.
“Our key to our race was getting a clear run across, beating the dogs on the inside across and hopefully trailing She’s A Pearl and that happened. But then Amron Boy just came from the clouds. What a great run he was.
“Going back-to-back is huge. Going three times is probably ‘Mission Impossible’!”
It was the second time in succession Wow She’s Fast has edged out Amron Boy, being a virtual carbon copy to the finish of the Sportsbet Showdown match race on Melbourne Cup night.
Ironically, Wow She’s Fast is a daughter of Jamie and Brooke Ennis’ former superstar My Bro Fabio.
Wow She’s Fast has now won 18 of her 26 starts, with her prizemoney spiralling past $2.25 million.
“I think greyhound racing has changed dramatically with the prizemoney that’s on offer,” Kel Greenough said.
“With the million dollar races on, it’s gone to a new different level of people, where they’ve had horses and now they want a greyhound.
“A number of people have contacted me in the last 12 months to get involved for the first time. It never would have happened in the past.”
The ‘family feud’ started earlier in the night, in the $20,000 The Challenger match race (525m), where Amron Boy’s litter brother and kennelmate Amron Dan ($1.30F) defeated He’s No Slouch, Wow She’s Fast’s brother in 30.03sec.
Meanwhile, Yahiro Bale ($2.80F), trained by Daniel Gibbons, won the $14,960 Whiskey Riot Classic (525m) in a Best Of Night 29.81sec, at just her second start since brilliantly winning the G3 SA Oaks on September 15.
