Sniffy's Oaks Win Sends Richmond Into A Spin

FRIDAY night's Richmond Derby and Oaks Finals produced memorable results for very contrasting reasons.

First up it was Sniffy's Group 2 Richmond Oaks victory for Leo Vanderburg.

If there's been a more popular big race win at the western Sydney circuit in recent times it certainly wasn't at the forefront of anyone's minds on Friday night.

For the best part of five decades now, Leo Vanderburg has gone about his business with little fanfare, Friday night's Oaks triumph by far the biggest of his training career.

With his residence just a hop, skip and a jump from Richmond Raceway, there's seldom a meeting that Leo doesn't frequent.

Put simply, he's part of the fabric out Richmond way.

Which is exactly why his Group 2 Oaks victory with Sniffy was so popular among the terrific crowd in attendance – the well wishers were coming thick and fast.

They say box one in big races is worth its weight in gold.

But you've still got to use it.

And that's exactly what Sniffy did in the Oaks decider, staving off a wall of challengers late to score by three-quarters of a length over a gallant Zest to Excel for Allen Williams in 30.88.

Third was outsider Midnight Waltz just a length away at the finish for Allan Ivers.

To see the genuine elation on Leo's face, not to mention Sniffy's proud group of owners, was a stark reminder of the joy greyhound racing brings so many week in, week out.

And it was much the same in the Derby decider when Queensland star Oh Mickey rattled the clock to win the $40,000 to-the-winner finale in 30.44.

For those that may have been teetering on the edge about Oh Mickey's upward rise they definitely aren't now.

This fella is a grade-A star, the complete package, just as we saw at Richmond on Friday night.

Owned and trained by Clint Kratzmann, Oh Mickey, winner of the National Derby at Wentworth Park in January, gave nothing else a look in, flying out from the eight box to post 5.22 early.

And after running 15.45 up the back before breaking 15 in the run home (14.99), the idea of anything running him down was a mathematical impossibility.

Not many possess the ability to churn out sectionals at all junctures of the race, but this bloke can, he's an all-round star make no mistake.

In a Richmond Derby that was only ever heading back to Queensland soon after box rise, Jason Magri's pairing of Zipping Zeek and King Cratos finished in the placings but were no match for the runaway winner.

Oh Mickey, a son of Fernando Bale and Iona Champion, returns home to Queensland to prepare for the Golden Easter Egg heats on March 28.

He's now had 11 starts for eight wins and three placings and in an ominous warning to anything he faces in the coming weeks and months, he's only getting better.