Emily's Sheer Joy After Champion Puppy Quinella

EMILY Azzopardi knew going around the first turn at Angle Park on Thursday night that Monique Keeping had the Champion Puppy final (530m) “in her keeping”.

“She's very strong while Angus Keeping, her brother, is more suited to 500 metres,” said Emily of the biggest win in her short greyhound training career.

Monique Keeping, royally bred by Fernando Bale-Caitlyn Keeping, ran away from her litter brother and kennelmate Angus Keeping, the final favourite to win by two lengths in 30.66.

Finniss Redeem ran on well for third two and three-quarter lengths away.

Emily's third finalist Melissa Keeping finished fifth.

“Wrapped,” said Emily after the win. “Absolutely wrapped.

“I really didn't care which one of them won when I saw them going to the first turn together.

“But Monique will get 600 metres in the future and maybe further so I knew she would be too strong from where she was camped on his outside.”

The littermates were bred and raised by Charmaine Roberts and Shayne Stiff.

“They will be just as pleased as we are,” said Emily. “They do such a great job with the dogs.

“All three of them have kept improving from the time we first got them and we expect them to get even better with more racing.”

Immediate plans are to take them back home to Victoria, see how they pull up and then map out a future program.

“We have only look as far as this race,” said Emily.

“But the runs at Angle Park will be good preparation for a tilt down the track at the Derby and Oaks back at Angle Park.”

It takes Emily and partner Matt Lanigan a little more than eight hours to get to Angle Park.

“The drive over is all worth it now,” she said.

Monique Keeping was having her fifth win in 18 starts and took her prizemoney to $23,000 with the Champion Puppy victory.

She has already been a Sandown, Meadows and Geelong winner for the kennel.