STAR Tasmanian greyhound Buckle Up Wes notched his second Group 1 victory for the year when he powered his way to an emphatic all-the-way win in the Topgun over 515 metres at The Meadows tonight (Saturday).
Buckle Up Wes had not started since injuring a tendon in his front leg when victorious in the state final of the National Sprint Championship in Launceston in late August.
His trainer Ted Medhurst gave his kennel star enough time to fully recover and admitted he was doubtful as to whether Buckle Up Wes would be race fit enough to win one of the most prestigious races on the national greyhound calendar.
Buckle Up Wes began brilliantly from box five and held a two-length break at the first turn and extended that lead down the back stretch.
But turning for home the followers started to close the gap but the Tasmanian found plenty at the business end of the race to go on and defeat the fast-finishing Oakvale Destiny with Awesome Project a close-up third.
“I thought when he approached the home turn that fitness might get him but he kept finding. He’s a freak,” said Medhurst.
“He hasn’t started for eight weeks but he’s had plenty of trials going into this race and I was confident he would do well but I honestly didn’t expect him to win this emphatically,’ he said.
Medhurst was ecstatic when Buckle Up Wes won the Australian Cup at the same venue earlier this year so Medhurst felt he didn’t have to take the dog to Melbourne to trial before the big race.
Buckle Up Wes is the first Tasmanian dog to contest a Topgun which is an invite only race that offers $150,000 to the winner.
Medhurst said Buckle Up Wes will now be aimed at The Melbourne Cup with thef heats at Sandown On November 13.