Father Ricks Wins Emotion Charged Six-Hundy Final

EVERY few moments Sharron Webster would subtly wipe away another tear. It was not surprising they were trying to scamper down her cheeks. She had all varieties … tears of joy, tears of relief, and tears of sadness.

"It's been an emotional day," perhaps the biggest understatement produced at Gosford on Saturday night.

Sharron had just watched her ageless marvel Father Rick – the greyhound named after a local parish priest – win his third feature race in his past six starts, the Ladbrokes Gosford Six Hundy.

But this time her husband Ray wasn't by her side as he always is. Earlier in the day Ray had "a bit of an accident" when he fell at home and hit his head, an incident which landed him in hospital. He was only released and allowed to go home and watch the race just an hour before it jumped.

"He did it for Ray," Sharron said of Father Rick's win. "Ray's OK. Thank goodness. He'll be watching him. He'll have watched the race. He would just be so thrilled and he really wanted to be here tonight, but obviously circumstances didn't allow it … but he's here in spirit. 

"I'm just so glad our boy won for him…"

We spoke to an emotional Sharron Webster after Father Rick – the old boy who thinks he's a pup – won yet another feature, the @ladbrokescomau Summer Six-Hundy Final at @gossygreys tonight.#thedogs #greyhoundracing #Summer600 pic.twitter.com/jYfHNkpSff

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) February 3, 2024

"It's been a pretty emotional day for me today to be honest. It's my late father's birthday today. He would have been 84 today. He passed away when he was 66, so he's (Father Rick's) done it for dad as well.

"I'm just so pleased. I'm just so glad it's over. We're so pleased, we're thrilled, it's just wonderful." 

Just as he did in his heat on January 23, Father Rick speared to the lead on box rise and gave none of his rivals a chance, this time clocking 34.36s, just half a length slower than his heat win. He had 1¾ lengths to spare from a gallant Off The Richter, with a further 1¼ lengths back to Has Ability in third place.

"He's just he's won so many big races lately," Sharron proudly said as she battled to keep another tear in its place. "You know, he's four years old, but I think he's at his peak and to win this race is obviously such a thrill. 

"Look, I think he thinks he's a pup to be honest. I think he thinks he's a pup and I'm happy for him to feel that way.

"I'm happy to let him feel like a pup because he's just going great."

There was a large crowd in attendance on a gorgeous night at Gosford with the club having the spotlight of Saturday night racing.

The Ladbrokes Summer Six-Hundy is still in its infancy, run for just the second time after taking the place of the Group 3 Gold Cup which was previously run over the 722m at Wentworth Park.

Father Rick joins the Jodie Lord-trained Punter's Bandit who took out the 2023 Six Hundy final.

One of the night's other features the Ladbrokes Queen of the Coast was taken out by promising bitch Tootsie Tears.

The win was her seventh from eight starts, and while not as quick as her previous wins at the track, there was plenty of merit.

"She was up against a bit of class tonight but she proved herself," said Chirs Perry, kennel representative for trainer Michael Ivers. 

He's done it again! ????

Father Rick takes out the @ladbrokescomau Summer Six-Hundy Final in fine style with Off The Richter and Has Ability behind him!#thedogs #greyhoundracing #greyhounds #Summer600 @gossygreys pic.twitter.com/A7OlQGWt3D

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) February 3, 2024

"She's usually a little better early, but she had a little bit of work, but she got it done."

With many big races on the horizon, Chris was asked where to next: "I don't know. We wanted to go into the (Group 1 National) Futurity (last month) but she had an injury. This is just her second run back now, so I think she's going well."

Bred in the purple and having just her second start over 700m, Check The Radar impressed with a 41.61s win in the GRNSW Stayers Series.

By Fernando Bale out of Serena Fly High, the Peter Rodgers-trained bitch is closely related to racetrack royalty, Tommy Shelby and Jungle Deuce.

"It was impressive," owner Bryan Canellis said. "We have been waiting for her to get over 700 and all accolades go to Peter Rodgers.

"She has had her knockers, but 700 was always going to be her go. She is very well bred, a full sister out of another litter to Tommy Shelby and of course related Jungle Deuce.

"Once she got to second tonight behind Nangar Luna, I thought as long as we were close enough we were a chance."