Record Breakers Set The Tone In Thunderbolt

WHILE the race results showed a time difference of .01 between track record breakers Integrity Mate (19.64) and Orson Laurie (19.65), stewards ruled the time for both in the Grafton heats of The Thunderbolt were the same at 19.65.

“The stewards explained it to me and we will go with what they rule,” said Integrity Mate's trainer Robbie Andrews.

The previous track record of 19.69 was held by Orara Dan.

Four heats of The Thunderbolt (350m) were run on Saturday night and the victories of Fast Liar, Typhoon Sammy and the above pair, highlight just what an exciting series it already is.

Fast Liar ran 19.82 to win the opening heat over Diamond Jill and Kingsbrae Archie.

Orson Laurie: breaks the Grafton track record in his #Thunderbolt⚡ heat.

Integrity Mate: hold my beer…

Integrity Mate has equaled the track record set by Orson Laurie just a race ago at Grafton!

What a treat the semis and the final of the #Thunderbolt⚡ will be!#thedogs pic.twitter.com/FPpd3EZEtm

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) June 4, 2022

Then track record and group star Typhoon Sammy burst through at the first turn and raced away to win the second heat in 19.90 over Apache Don and Orara Dan.

But Evelyn Harris' Orson Laurie then blitzed his heat field in 19.65 beating Borneo Bandit and Kingsbrae Anna.

In the final heat Integrity Mate, coming off a track record at Casino only four starts back, also ran 19.65 to win his heat over Dark Fate and Quick As.

Andrews and joint owners, father and son team Allan and Keith Hilzinger, were over the moon with the performance.

“He's going great and to run two track records in four starts and toss in a Beef Week Cup over 484 metres in between is something,” said Andrews.

“For him to come back from 484 metres to run a record over 350 is something else.”

Andrews will be desperate for his dog to draw an inside box in the semi-finals next week.

“He won three of three from the red and five from six off the two,” he said.

Andrews rates Integrity Mate the best he has prepared in decades as a trainer.

“I'm loving it for Allan and Keith,” he said. “They are passionate about greyhound racing.

“This dog is only two and a bit and has plenty of improvement in him. He's the best I've had.

“And with a race worth $75,000 to the winner on your doorstep, we had to have a crack at it.”