How The Topgun Set Rupee On Path To Greatness

RAY Borda says the Golden Slipper is a stallion maker in thoroughbred racing, and the Topgun is its equal for greyhounds.

Which is why Ray stood tall back in November 2021 as his glorious race dog Aston Rupee swept past a field of superstars to win the Group 1 Topgun and further cement his future at stud.

Borda will have shivers down the spine when he watches Saturday night's running of the now time-honoured Topgun, remembering the victory of his KC And All-Aston Miley superstar the year before.

“It was such a huge thrill when he won,” admitted Ray who could be forgiven for being blasé about the victory considering just how many races he wins each and every year.

“I'd had some hard luck stories with my Topgun runners before that.

“But Aston Rupee was drawn to win out of the two last year and Glenn (trainer Glenn Rounds) and I were very confident.

“Then when he swept past a real star like Tiggerlong Tonk on the home turn and went on to win … well, it was really something.”

Chasing behind him were Tiggerlong Tonk, Do It, Lala Kiwi, Zipping Kyrgios, Jungle Deuce, Wow and Bandit Ned.

Four of those are now at stud or being made ready for that new career.

“There was talk in the lead-up that Rupee didn't go as well at The Meadows as he did at Sandown where he had run the track record,” said Ray. “But, how that started is amazing.

“He would later go on to win the Temlee there and then run a near record 29.39.”

With that Topgun win, Aston Rupee was always going to attract the cream of broodbitches.

Even Ray Borda was not prepared for what would come.

“I have been swamped,” he said.

“Unfortunately, I have to knock back four and five applications for semen every single week.

“It is said for a dog to make it at stud, he needs to mate 100 bitches. Rupee has done 200 already.”

HISTORIC PERFORMANCE

ASTON RUPEE is the first greyhound to complete the @MelbourneGreys invitational feature double with his Group 1 @tabcomau #Temlee triumph following his Group 1 #Topgun success in November.#GreyhoundRacing #PremierRacing pic.twitter.com/YfHjxP1b06

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) February 12, 2022

Borda said the struggle is to fill orders interstate because he just cannot put together bundles of semen from the dog to be sent to clinics around the country.

“His fertility is excellent,” said Ray.

“I get every straw tested and the pass mark for that test is usually around 106, but he is getting a figure around 140.

“And, I am hearing wonderful reports about his first pups.”

Borda, as would be expected, has used him often.

“I had one of the very first bitches mated to him and those pups are about nine or 10 months old now.

“The reports I'm getting back from breeders is that they will chase anything.

“And, that's exactly what we want to hear in this new age of greyhound racing.”

Borda reports Aston Rupee's litter brother, Aston Aston Fastnet, will soon be available to breeders as well. Paul and Michelle Westerveld will stand him at $2200.

Aston Fastnet won the G3 Warragul St Leger and was a finalist in the G1 Maturity, G3 Speed Star and won in 29.11 around Sandown.

“We are just awaiting his DNA to come back,” said Ray of Aston Fastnet the winner of 11 of his 25 starts for $76,000.

“I will be supporting him of course. His fertility has been tested and it too is great.”