Shot Of Red On Target For SA Derby Assault

EXCITING sprinter Shot Of Red is South Australian Derby bound after his brilliant all-of-the-way win at The Meadows on Saturday night.

A son of Melbourne Cup winner Whiskey Riot, Shot Of Red began brilliantly to record a 5.00 first split on his way to his second 29.80 victory in as many weeks.

The grand career of Melbourne Cup champ Whiskey Riot has drawn to a close with stud beckoning.

Read: https://t.co/cTKwR5BfNk pic.twitter.com/jezZRNPEPF

— Greyhound Recorder (@GreyRecorder) April 8, 2020

It was his eighth win from 15 career starts and his fourth win on end, prompting trainer Anthony Azzopardi to draw comparisons with his famous father.

FIELDS AND FORM ANGLE PARK THURSDAY NIGHT

"The early speed and the attitude, they're so similar," said Azzopardi.

"You put him in the yard and he nibbles on your fingers – that's what ‘Red' (Whiskey Riot) does. He's like a clone to be honest. It's exciting for me, especially when you're running five dead at The Meadows consistently and 5-ohs at Sandown – they're the type of sections that can win you a Melbourne Cup.

Whiskey Riot is the 9th @tabcomau Melbourne Cup winner to also be named the Victorian Greyhound of the Year!

24 starts in 2019/20 for a 11-8-2 record and $740k in prize money, placed in 6 group 1 finals, winning the Temlee as well as the Cup. #VictorianGreyhoundAwards #VGA2020 pic.twitter.com/pdMj5wDIke

— Mick Floyd (@MickFloyd) August 30, 2020

"And he's always improving, that's the good thing about him."

Joining Shot Of Red on the trip to Angle Park on Thursday night is another son of Whiskey Riot, Salad Dodger who also won impressively at The Meadows on Saturday night, as well as last start 29.29 Sandown Park winner Deadly Class.

Salad Dodger and Deadly Class are engaged in grade 5 events while Shot Of Red will trial.

Azzopardi has no doubt the trio will measure up to group class and believes they will all gain benefit from their first interstate trip.

"I don't think it'll bother them because they're pretty good travelers, but we've never gone that far before so we'll see how they go.

"As long as they pull up alright, regardless of what they run they'll be going back the following week for the heats. Whatever they do this week they're going to improve next week because they'll know what's going on.

"This week is purely to get them on the road and have a look at the track. If they win they win and if they don't there's no big dramas – it's all about the following week."

While Azzopardi's short-term focus is the South Australia Derby, he knows that feature race success can provide a boost to the stud career of Whiskey Riot.

Whiskey Riot admiring the big crowd.

Not long now! pic.twitter.com/LpfLE9zRSf

— Sandown Greyhounds (@sandowndogs) November 29, 2019

The 2019 Melbourne Cup winner has been used sparingly by breeders despite a superb pedigree and race record that includes two group 1 wins and four group 1 placings and the 2019/20 Victorian Greyhound of the Year honours.

Whiskey Riot currently sits just 62^nd on the Australasian sires list (as sorted by prize money won) but boasts a 23% with 93 wins from 409 starters – a strike rate superior to every sire above him on the list.

So what's the reason for the lack or patronage?

"I don't know," said Azzopardi.

"He's got plenty of pups that can run serious times so I just don't know. But anyway, we'll see what happens during spring."