Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Worrolong trainer Steve Bartholomew landed his second city double when Galactic Athena and Galactic Titan, members of the Paddy Whacker x Galactic Rumball litter, turned in outstanding Champion Puppy trials at Angle Park last night.
Jumping from box five in the McQueen’s Tavern Juvenile (515 m), Galactic Athena was in front by the first turn, eventually defeating a determined Weblec Queen by two lengths in 29.77 seconds.
Heats of the Champion Puppy, for dogs and bitches whelped on or after July 1, 2017 – which makes it one of relatively few remaining true classic races still being conducted – will be run over 515 metres at Angle Park on Thursday, July 11 with the $10,710 final a week later.
Being August 2017 whelpings, the Galactic dogs are well placed from a classic age point of view as is the nicely-bred Weblec Queen, the daughter of Kinloch Brae and Weblec Rose being whelped in September 2017.
And Galactic Titan led all the way from box eight in the grade six Kurt Donsberg Photography Stake (515 m), eventually winning by 8¾ lengths in 29.81 seconds.
As far as the litter was concerned, it was a good few days for Moorak breeder-owner Robert Chuck and Bartholomew with Galactic Destiny a sub-30 second winner over 512 metres at Tara Raceway on the Thursday prior.
Bartholomew’s first Angle Park double was on Monday, August 26, 1996 – the first time he had raced in the city – with Moorak Flyer and Mel’s Perfection.
Pictures: Courtesy Kurt Donsberg Photography.