From The Vault: Beast Brilliant In Launching Pad

The Launching Pad has long been a series for young dogs to announce themselves on the national stage, and there are few better examples than Best Unleashed.

 Since becoming a slot race in 2015, the Launching Pad has been the premier sire producing series in the country with the likes of My Redeemer, Mepunga Blazer, Raw Ability, Sennachie and Fast Times all contesting the series, however Beast Unleashed is the only one to have won the event.

BEAST UNLEASHED AT STUD

Trained by Peter Lagogiane, the son of Barcia Bale and Little Miss Hap arrived at Sandown Park in February 2018 with a big reputation.

His brilliant 22.75 win over 400m at Richmond followed by a 30.06 win at Gosford set in motion a carefully planned campaign on the 1-6 win slot race series.

ICYMI – Beast Unleashed lands the final of last night's #LaunchingPad

He's now won over $177,000 in prize money and doesn't turn 2 until next week. What could he achieve in the next 12 months?

Race summary – https://t.co/P4fPSys2N6 pic.twitter.com/JEhJEa9bqZ

— Sandown Greyhounds (@sandowndogs) March 29, 2018

After a number of impressive trials, Beast Unleashed made an inauspicious start to his Victorian campaign, running sixth in a heat of the Launching Pad qualifier.

But he took great benefit from the experience, returning to Sandown Park the following Sunday, clocking a stunning 4.94 first split before stopping the clock in a BON 29.43.

Four days later he defeated She's Gifted – which would be placed in the Melbourne Cup later that year – running 5.00 early to score in 29.44, again the fastest time of the night.

 And that early speed was the key to his success in the Launching Pad.

The 5.05 first split in his heat helped him cross easily from box seven and win by nine lengths. A stumble at box rise in his semi meant it was his strength and determination on show, but in the final he was back to his brilliant best.

Drawn box one, Beast Unleashed stepped with the field but showed superior acceleration to again split 5.00 and claim the $150,000 first prize, defeating greyhounds including Dyna Patty, Tornado Tears and She's Gifted.

 "I looked at this race many months ago," Lagogiane said at the time.

"I had to make sure that he was going to get to the 500m, and after he put some brilliant trials back in New South Wales that was the end of it, I knew it was going to happen.

Beast Unleashed puts a gap on his rivals to win for the 5th time in 6 career starts.

Three wins at Sandown in 29.43, 29.44 and 29.43

Is he the one to beat in the #LaunchingPad? series? pic.twitter.com/qMwVqqsUmt

— Sandown Greyhounds (@sandowndogs) March 15, 2018

"We've been up and down for about seven weeks now, but we have stayed here the last three weeks. A big thank you too to Anthony Azzopardi and his family for putting us up. When he saw the dog trial he said he can win this."

While injury would limit Beast Unleashed to just seven more starts (his career culminating in a track record breaking Group 2 Gosford Cup victory), his victory in the Launching Pad set in place a stud career that has already produced the brilliant Unleash Collinda, Mr Audacious and Sacred Stance just to name a few.

The 2023 Launching Pad will be run at Sandown Park this Thursday night.