LILLEY BLOOMS IN SUMMER
Coutesy of The Dogs 16/11/08

Australia has a new challenger for the number one staying ranking after Lilley Criminal landed her second group victory in a month by taking out the Group Two Pages Event Hire Summer Cup at Wentworth Park last night.

Crossing straight to the lead, trainer Anthony Azzopardi who recorded the biggest win in his training career was never in doubt as to the result from there.

“It was over, she was home”

In front of a bumper crowd who packed the steps of Wentworth Park, Lilley Criminal ($1.90) bounded along out in front, setting up a big gap from classy Others Quoted ($11.40) who simply couldn’t rein back the margin.

Stopping the clock at 42.29 seconds, “Lilley” had three and a quarter lengths to spare on the line from Others Quoted and Princess Bale ($3.10), the second favourite who couldn’t replicate her stunning heat win.

While some in the racing media thought the outside box might find “Lilley” out, Azzopardi was of a different opinion.

“She has a good record from the outside, so we were quite happy with the draw”.

It was a popular win for her owners, the Bigger Than Life syndicate who invest of a significant amount of money into greyhound racing.

Azzopardi now plans to travel Lilley Criminal to Melbourne where she spent the majority of 2008.

“We’ll head down to Melbourne now, down to Sandown Park next Thursday night for the heats of the Bold Trease”.

For the beaten brigade, there are some promising signs that this bunch of hot staying talents will provide us with many enthralling contests to come. Princess Bale especially may have turned the corner in this series and she is capable of winning any race, on her night.