The 2020 editions of the Ladbrokes Richmond Derby and Oaks produced events to remember at the Richmond Greyhound Racing Club on Friday night.
In front of one of the largest crowds in recent memory at the Londonderry track, both feature events lived up to the pre-race hype.
The first of the night's feature events was the Ladbrokes Richmond Oaks, where brothers Hank and Leo Vanderburg went head-to-head from boxes eight and one respectively, with Hank's 'Wild Flyer' going into the Final as the favourite following her Best of Night Heat victory.
Not to be outdone by his more fancied brother, Leo's 'Sniffy’ in the one rug pinged the lids to streak home in a memorable victory and claim the Group 2 event in a time of 30.88s.
The victory left Leo speechless as he’d never reached these group winning heights in his 55 years of greyhound training.
“I feel unbelievable,” said Vanderburg.
“My heart's racing a million miles an hour. I never ever thought I’d be in one of those races but it’s just great.
“From training dogs for so long, almost 55 years and then finally to get in a big race and then to win it is unbelievable.
“It’s a great feeling – I’m just lost for words.”
On the back of strong recent form, Sniffy was always going to challenge for top spot and once she drew the red, in Leo’s mind she was right in the mix.
“She’s a faultless beginner.
“I know once she drew the one box she was always going to be a chance but I wasn’t over confident with her I’ll be honest but I’m just thrilled she’s won, not just for me but for the owners too."
And when it came to his brother, Leo’s quip was loud and clear – “it’s about time I got home over him”, he said with a wry smile.
In the Derby Final, there was a red-hot field assembled with much of the pre-race attention on both the early favourite ‘King Cratos’ and then late for the Victorian ‘Waging War’. However, when the time came, it was the Queensland sensation 'Oh Mickey' in the pink who stood up to the plate clocking a blistering 30.44s to claim this year’s derby.
“It’s unbelievable. I can’t describe it,” said trainer Clint Kratzmann.
“He’s a special little dog."
Kratzmann dedicated the win to his son, who was unable to make the trip to Richmond.
“My son’s at home and I wish they were here tonight but this is just very special.
“This win is for my young bloke, he’s at home.
“You dream of this and now it’s happening – it’s unbelievable. I never thought it would happen to me and I never thought I’d be training it either.”
Kratzmann, who created history by going on to win both the National Derby and Richmond Derby in the same year, credited Troy Donaldson for the great work he provided in getting him to the standard he is at today.
“I’d like to thank Troy and Crystal for the work they did with him. I sent him down a nice dog and they’ve sent him back a Group dog and that was massive winning that Group 1 National Derby.
“I think a lot of people thought it was half a fluke but I tell you what, that ain’t no fluke (sic)."
Friday night also saw the running of two feature memorial races: the John McCombe Memorial Stakes and Frank Kennedy Memorial Stakes with both families represented on track.
The John McCombe Memorial (535m) was taken out by 'Zipping Byron' in a time of 30.46s while the Frank Kennedy (618m) went the way of 'Good Juan', now in the kennels of Harry Sarkis, in a time of 35.45s.
