Rough Diamond Dazzles In Richmond Riches

SANCTIFY came into the Group 3 Richmond Riches series as a work in progress, an uncut diamond if you like, yet he's now close to the finished article.

The son of Allen Deed showed high speed to dominate his rivals in the $40,000 to-the-winner final on Friday, winning by a rarely-seen 17 ¼ lengths in a slashing 30.41 for trainer Peter Lagogiane.

This fifth running of the Richmond Riches lacked the general depth of past series – the first secured by Thirty Talks (30.68) before Mister Twister (30.66), My Mate Fox (30.68) and the indefatigable Feral Franky (30.31) prevailed by a cosy 7 ½ lengths but it does not detract from Sanctify's jaw dropping performance.

A clean start from box six allowed the speedster to sizzle by Candy Carrera (box three) at the post the first time and, with rivals colliding soon after, the contest was as good as over.

Mid-race, Sanctify led by 15 lengths from Sharky's Wish (seven) while his litter brother Sceptre (four) worked to third and looked destined for the quinella position before being cut out near the 330m boxes.

Ultimately, Oh Five Surprise and Gone By None finished with gusto to fill the placings and both certainly look to have bright middle distance futures (at the very least) ahead.

Such was the nature of Sanctify's win, it may well be a record winning margin for a race holding Group status.

"He came down here (to Victoria) due to looming COVID-19 restrictions," declared trainer Anthony Azzopardi said who sent the greyhound to Lagogiane for the Richmond Riches series.

"He ran sensational time in a performance trial but then had hock ligament issues before racing again at Bulli in March.

"When he arrived, he was a work in progress so we started from scratch and he's just kept improving."

With four weeks of straight track work under his belt, it did not take long for Sanctify to show Azzopardi he ‘had gears'.

"I trialled him from the puppy boxes at Ballarat and he ran time only elite dogs can run … and he was only just getting fit," Azzopardi added.

"What he had in speed, he lacked in field experience and match practice and we've worked really hard on that. In fact, this trip to Richmond will be the making of the dog – he's a great chaser.”

Unable to come north due to quarantine issues, Azzopardi sought his great mate Peter Lagogiane to apply the Richmond polish and every I was dotted and T crossed.

"Pete and I work in together for interstate races and I also have had great success with Andy Lord," Azzopardi continued.

"It's all about trust and I just know there is nothing left to chance with Pete or Andy.

"What lies ahead for Norm (Sanctify) had been up in the air but we've decided to back to Richmond for the heats of the Million Dollar Chase next Friday.

"It's a tough 535m but the dog, Pete said, is absolutely jumping out of his skin."

In a sidelight to the win by Sanctify, his dam Sawadee has a second litter by SH Avatar on the ground which were broken in only last month by Scott Manning.

"Sonia and Pete Davis have 14 youngsters ready to name and, from the times they ran at Manning's, I'm excited about getting a couple of the second litter down here,” Azzopardi said.

"They've got Sherbini pups which will go to Mark Gatt and others out of Dapto Silver Collar winner Dokmai ready to place and we're gunna have some fun."

Pawnote: On the morning of the Richmond Riches, Sawadee was found to be in season and will be mated with SH Avatar's best son Konomi.