Mick's Staying Star Demands Respect

NO one who was at Grafton to witness He Knows Uno smash the track record in the Stayers Cup in 2012 will forget the emotion his trainer Mick Patterson, and the entire crowd, showed after the win.

Ditto 2023 when Patterson and his latest racetrack star, Respectability, also proved himself yet again when he led throughout to win the Stayers Cup on Wednesday.

And, in doing so, he proved the trainer right to put his faith in his outstanding dog. The emotion was there once again.

Respectability was devastating scoring by 6-1/2 lengths in 38.08, just 8/100ths of a second outside Shipwreck's track record.

Respectability ($3) downed Carroway ($23) with hot $1.35 favourite Nangar Rocket, a length away in third.

Mad respect! ?

Respectability has led all the way to take out the Westlawn Finance Stayers Cup at Grafton tonight in 38.08 from Carroway and Nangar Rocket!

Full Results: https://t.co/rLiN80918z#thedogs #grafton #greyhoundracing @Ceement pic.twitter.com/EMFTVdnD9f

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) July 12, 2023

“I told everyone I had faith in him to win the Cup,” Patterson said. “He proved me right.

“To be a length off the track record is something.

“We've won it before with He Knows Uno, so to win it again is something special.”

Patterson now plans to head back to Albion Park for a 710m campaign and then he'll be off to Sydney on August for the NSW National Distance Final.

“I want to see if he can run out 700 metres, but I'm confident he can,” he said.

“I'd like to think he could get out and split them up a good bit.”

Meanwhile, Northern Rivers trainer Mick Lalicz caused an upset when Dino Way (Zambora Brockie-Wicked This Way) stormed away with the Sprinters Cup (450m) at $21.

He scored by 1-1/2 lengths from the fast finishing Pike ($9.50) with two lengths back to Flying Zinger ($18) in third. The $2.60 favourite Impress Dressel found bother in the middle stages and finished down the track.

The young gun, Dino Way ? has won the Village Green Hotel Sprinters Cup at Grafton from Pike and Flying Zinger in 25.24!

Full Results: https://t.co/dejMgDWAVE#thedogs #grafton #greyhoundracing @Ceement pic.twitter.com/A3gyDp8xbF

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) July 12, 2023

Dino Way ran 25.24 and as a fifth grader was giving away experience and class to a number of top grader performers.

Lalicz's parents, Bob and Lola down at Dubbo, puchased Dino Way as a pup. The dam had already produced Group 1 class She's Savage.

“They got him reared at Dubbo and then broken in at Cudal,” Lalicz said.

“The dog is fearless.

“I was a bit worried that he was drawn the five against all those stars, but he doesn't know he's a fifth grader.

"I had my fingers crossed, but when he led at the first turn, I knew he would win.”

Lalicz has no immediate plans for the dog but says Albion Park racing will be the obvious next target.

Fastest heat winner, Heidi McGraw ($3.60) scored narrowly in the Grafton Maiden Classic (450m) holding off a storming Kenzie Baskin ($16) with King Of Aces ($6) finishing well for third.

What a thriller!

Heidi Mcgraw has won the 2023 edition of the Grafton Maiden Classic from Kenzie Baskin and King Of Aces in a very memorable finish!

Full Results: https://t.co/Md86OAg3QX#thedogs #grafton #greyhoundracing @Ceement pic.twitter.com/ExzycTfLps

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) July 12, 2023

The Aston Dee Bee-Nangar Silk bitch remains unbeaten in her two starts for owner-trainer Chris Spratt.

Huge betting support for Ezra Man saw his price tumble to $1.85 but a slow start put paid to his chances and he finished down the track.