WAGERING giant Sportsbet and connections of champion sprinter Wow She’s Fast are running it back in their defence of the $1.65m The Phoenix.
In the countdown to Wow She’s Fast’s Adelaide Cup tilt on Friday night, Sportsbet has announced they will once again team up with Australia’s number one greyhound for The Phoenix, set to be staged at The Meadows on Saturday, December 17.
“We knew she was fast last year but her performance on the night even surprised us,” said Sportsbet’s Sean Ormerod.
“It was an amazing night with many loyal Sportsbet customers trackside to experience it and given the form she has been in the decision to go around again with Wow She’s Fast was an easy one.”
Last year, Wow She’s Fast roared away for victory in the inaugural running of The Phoenix in a slashing 29.66 at just her seventh race start for trainers Kel and Jackie Greenough. At the time, Sportsbet, which recently inked a lucrative sponsorship rights agreement with Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) pledged that they would donate 25 percent of the $750,000 first prize if Wow She’s Fast annexed the world’s richest slot race. And it was a promise they delivered on in spades with $187,500 going to the Victorian Greyhound Adoption Program following the epic victory. This year’s The Phoenix, boasting a $1m first prize, sees Wow She’s Fast as the current $3 favourite in her bid to go back-to-back and be the first greyhound to surpass $2m in prizemoney earnings.
“Sportsbet were fantastic to deal with last year so it only made sense that we teamed up again for another shot at it,”
said trainer Kel Greenough.
“Their promotion of the race and pledge to the Adoption Program were both fantastic for the industry so to be associated with that is great for us and the owners.
“Having her spot locked away means we can really focus on her spring program and having her as good as we can on the night of The Phoenix.”
Winner at 15 of her 20 starts and $1.17m in prizemoney, Wow She’s Fast will start a short priced favourite to add another group 1 to her resume in Friday night’s Adelaide Cup at Angle Park. As well as winning last year’s The Phoenix, Wow She’s Fast has a resume which boasts wins in the Launching Pad, Group 1 Maturity, Group 1 Sapphire and Group 3 Bill Collins Speed Star. The fastest female to ever race at Sandown Park at a remarkable 28.82, Wow She’s Fast recently broke the Angle Park track record with her 29.86 triumph in the Match Race Challenge (530m).
Sportsbet’s announcement of Wow She’s Fast in The Phoenix is the first of the eight slot holders. KEY DATES:
Final Field & Box Draw - Sunday 11 December
Reserves Announced - Wednesday 14 December
The Race Saturday - 17 December
For more information, please email thephoenix@grv.org.au
ARTICLE BY THE GREYHOUND RECORDER