CONSISTENT dog Paw Licking produced a career best performance to win the Group 1 Hobart Thousand at Tattertsall’s Park in Hobart last night (Thursday).
In a race that was expected to be a cakewalk for reigning Melbourne Cup winner Black Magic Opal, Paw Licking ruined the script and announced his arrival as a superstar.
Paw Licking ($7.60) began brilliantly from box seven and quickly cleared the field to lead while Black Magic Opal ($1.40) also was well away from box eight and camped on the leader’s heels turning for the run home.
When Black Magic Opal loomed to win it looked a foregone conclusion but Paw Licking refused to wilt and with fighter-like instincts he dug deep like never before and held on to score by under a length from Black Magic Opal with Tasmanian star Yappin’ Jack a gallant third ahead of Ronan Izmir.
Paw Licking’s Victorian trainer Kel Greenough was ecstatic after the race.
“This dog has been so consistent with this his ninth Group final this year so there is no doubt that he deserved to win a Group 1,” Greenough said.
“I am just so proud of the way he fought on when it looked like Black Magic Opal would claim him in the straight.”
“There is nowhere to hide on this track in the home straight because every dog is exposed and only the real good ones can do what he did tonight.” he said.
Paw Licking will be remembered as one of the best ever to race on the Hobart circuit as he broke every split record on his way to setting a new time mark for the 461-metre trip.
The dog clocked a sizzling 4.99 seconds for the first split and 10.86 for the second and he then powered up the home straight to stop the clock at 25.64 which carved one-hundredth of a second off Black Magic Opal’s track record he set the week before in winning his Hobart Thousand heat.
Paw Licking is owned in New South Wales by Allen Lang who prepared the dog to win nine races before sending the son of Elite State-Kingsbrae Di to Greenough.
Paw Licking has come a long way since he won on debut at Casino 18 months ago.
“I’ve had some good dogs in my time and this one will have to rate as one of the best but as far as consistency goes at the top level he would probably be the best.”
Greenough plans to give Paw Licking a short break before deciding his immediate future.
“The Warragul Cup is the next Group race on the calendar but I will have to wait and see how he comes through this race before making any final decisions.”
“We’ve got the Warragul Cup in four weeks so we may look at that but he has had a hard campaign so we might just freshen the dog up and set about doing it all again next year,” he said.
Black Magic Opal’s trainer Jason Thompson was full of praise for his kennel star’s effort.
“There’s no doubt Black Magic Opal had every chance to win but Paw Licking was just too good on the night,” Thompson said.
“Full credit to the winner but I am proud of how Black Magic Opal gave his all – I just wish the race had have been over 480 metres,” he said.
Black Magic Opal and Thompson’s other Hobart Thousand finalist Ronan Izmir that finished fourth after copping multiple checks, will both head to the Warragul Cup and then to the Healesville Cup.
The Mick Stringer-trained Yappin’ Jack was a very game third and the Tasmanian dog proved he will be up to tackling the good races interstate next year if connections decide to travel.