When Paul Braddon woke up on Monday morning, the Cowra trainer would have been satisfied if his hot dog Falcon’s Fury just won the Orange Cup final in the evening.
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Not only did Falcon’s Fury, backed as the $2.50 favourite, win the cup, he broke the track record over 520 metres at Kennerson Park.
The old record of 29.47 seconds, achieved by Buck Fever in November 2012, was smashed, as Falcon’s Fury went around the track in a time of 29.24 seconds, breaking the previous record by 0.23.
It was Falcon’s Fury’s 23rd win from just 37 starts.
Braddon was delighted with his phenomenal two-year-old black dog, describing the race as outstanding.
“I didn’t believe he would run that time. I’ll take it,” he said.
“I was hoping he could do what he did last week [win]. He’s been going good in trials but he hasn’t been able to do it on the track since coming back from his injury.
“This proves he’s back.
“You just like to win and anything else is a bonus. A track record is just phenomenal. They don’t come along that often.”
Braddon now has a slight dilemma where to send Falcon’s Fury next, with the Bathurst Cup and the Bulli Cup on the same weekend.
He won both cups in 2017.
“They’re both on the same weekend, which is a bugger,” he said.
“It’s bad timing but he’s flying here, so I might bring him back here.
“He’s a very easy dog to train. He’s a pleasure to own.”
Falcon’s Fury got out of the box well and bolted to the front by the end of the opening straight and never looked back, winning the race by 7.75.
There was no match for Falcon’s Fury at the front, as the race’s actual competition was between second and tenth.
Utah Miss ($6.50) finished strongly in second, 3.25 metres ahead of third placed Sky Wave ($3.70).
Orange member Phil Donato was on hand to present the trophy to Braddon and his wife Pam.
Elsewhere at Kennerson Park on Monday, Spring Terrace trainer Shannon Kirby saw Concealment storm to a win in the Julie Healey Memorial Final (450 metres), ahead of John Buttsworth double of Que Fever, in second, and Millionaire Max, in third.
Lidsdale trainer John Chapman witnessed his three-year-old brindle dog jump out of box one and race home to victory in the meeting’s other memorial race – the Alan Harvey Memorial (520 metres).
Chapman said it was a brilliant achievement from the dog.
“He’s always showed heaps of potential. He doesn’t always race up to his best, unfortunately,” he said.
“It’s brilliant to win a race like this. That’s nothing short of what I’ve expected from him. There’s 10 guys that own him and they’re all from the Yabbie Syndicate, so they’re wrapped.
“He’s been a bit a disappointing dog but he seems to be turning around, as he’s coming towards four. Maturity is starting to get the better of him.”
