Greyhound Races

Last Friday afternoon, February 5, The Gardens were home to the much awaited final of the $50 000 Group 1 Newcastle Herald National Derby that was won by star sprinter Elite Blue Size in a stunning lead-all-the run.

Installed as the odds-on favourite at $1.60, the Reg Kay-trained Elite Blue Size made the most of his box one draw to beat home kennelmate Outa Credit ($7.40) by a length with Jedd Lion ($21.40) a distant third over six lengths back from the winner.

The ever improving two-year-old son of Elite State, Elite Blue Size ran a scintillating time of 29.33sec over the 515m feature sprint race to take out his maiden Group 1 victory, coming agonisingly close to the track record set by Knocka Norris of 29.25sec. Funnily enough, Knocka Norris is also part of the Kay kennel.

Elite Blue Size, who took out the first semi final the week before, has now won five successive victories and boasts an imposing career record of 13 wins from 17 starts for an impressive winning strike rate of 76%.

It was a gutsy run for second placegetter Outa Credit, also prepared by leading Queensland trainer Reg Kay, who pulled out a late burst of acceleration over the closing stages to tighten the margin from five lengths to just a length.

The Group 1 quinella was without doubt the highlight of Reg Kay’s dazzling training career.

The other semi final winner, the Christopher Nutt-trained St. Pierre was outclassed in the final and crossed the line last.

The other headline race at the meeting was the Group 1 National Futurity, taken out by Daydream.

2010 National Derby Results: