Hidden Agenda Group 2 Golden Sands Bound

TONY Short battled with himself all morning on Friday tossing up between a Derby start and the planned Golden Sands.

He finally settled on heading his classy galloper Hidden Agenda towards the Group 2 Golden Sands (600m).

Thursday night's victory in the Middle Distance Challenge (600m) in 35.06 by Hidden Agenda (Sulzanti-Fernvale Ruby) convinced him he should keep the dog at the middle distance trip.

2022 @tabcomau Middle Distance Challenge Final 600m

1st: Hidden Agenda (1) – 35.06
2nd: Come On Aussie ( 8 )
3rd: Sunshine Delight (7)#QLDisRacing@RaceQLD @tabcomaumedia @SkyRacingAU @GerardDaffy @Bunny_Brasch @SEN_track @MMcInallyPhotos pic.twitter.com/CveE0nvgTj

— Brisbane Greyhounds (@BrisGreys) December 22, 2022

“The Derby would have been a nice race for him because it is for dogs under 30 months and he gets into the race really nicely,” said Tony who bred the dog and owns and trains him.

“But, in the end I settled on the Golden Sands because he is up at 600 metres now and it suits him.”

Hidden Agenda scored by only three-quarters of a length over Come On Aussie with Sunshine Delight in third.

Tony Zammit's Rich Link started the $2.60 favourite ahead of Hidden Agenda at $3.30 but Rich Link was put out of contention going around the first turn.

The $113,000 Group 2 Golden Sands (600m) heats will be run on December 28.

The final of that race will be on January 5 the same night as the Group 2 Qld Derby and Futurity finals.

The victory brings Hidden Agenda's career to 26 starts for 12 wins and seven placings and his prizemoney to $72,000.

“He's the best I've had,” said Tony.

“He's a tough boy and he really knows where that finish line is.

“We will cross our figurers and hope he can draw the one or the eight in the heats of the Golden Sands.

“I imagine there will be some smart dogs from the south coming up for the series.”

The Middle Distance Challenge win added to Hidden Agenda's victory in the Publicans Cup and his final berth in the G3 Rising Stars.