FARRUGIA HITS THE JACKPOT WITH STRIKER LIGHT

Striker Light's blistering mid-race speed carried her into the final and was again the prevailing factor when she edged out Lagoon Jazzy in THE $250,000-to-the-winner Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg final.

Lagoon Jazzy, locally trained by Sharron Webster, was a $41 outsider but looked set to pull off the biggest upset in the Group 1 event's history when she raced to a clear early lead.

But Striker Light, bred in NSW by Toby Weekes but owned by Melbourne journalist George Farrugia and her trainer, Brett Bravo, surged to the front in the middle stages.

Striker Light led clearly for home before Lagoon Jazzy rallied in the straight to go down by a half head in 29.99, well outside Fernando Bale's race record of 29.48sec set in 2015.

"She has always been able to bust them up in the middle stages, that is her big asset,'' Striker Light's trainer Brett Bravo said.

Mack Tux jumped smartly from box one but was outpaced by Lagoon Jazzy and Lucky Chap in the run to the first turn, while favourite Up Hill Hill missed the start.

LITTLE CONSOLATION

Veteran Sydney trainer John Little took out the Easter Egg Consolation, the $25,000 to the winner The Ambrosoli with Black Hole Sun.

Bred by Little from his former handy sprinter Chasing Diana, Black Hole Sun has been a fixture in big races over the past 12 months and deserved a group race win.

Fortune was with Black Hole Sun on Saturday as he bungled the start before securing a miraculous rails run at the first turn after pacemaker Nangar Bear ran off the track and collided with Hugo Boss and Barking Bad.

"We had a bit of luck tonight,'' quipped Little after the race.

Chevy King gave trainer Christine Proctor a surprise second win in the Group 3 New Sensation Final, after she had landed the race two years ago with Lord Gee.

Chevy King drew box seven and after trailing pacemaker Rohan Hill at box rise, he swept to the lead at the first turn to win easily.

"I can't believe he has won,'' Proctor said. "Chevy King is desperate for an inside box.

"He had his kennelmate Son Of Katie, a wide runner drawn on his left in box six, I thought they would bring each other unstuck.''

EMOTIONAL WIN

Blitzing Lass's win in the Group 3 Ladbrokes Magic Maiden final was charged with emotion.

Trained by Jodie Van Enkhuyzen, Blitzing Lass is owned by Michael Brookes, whose father John passed away 18 months ago after breeding the greyhound.

"Blitzing Lass is a daughter of dad's bitch Miss Blockbuster, who won 14 of 30 races,'' Michael Brookes said.

"When Miss Blockbuster retired my father took the advice of her trainer John Chapman and mated her with Milldean Panther, and Blitzing Lass is the result.

"It's just a pity dad was not here to see Blitzing Lass win a good race like this.''

Newcastle owner-breeder Steve Connor was back in big race mode when his crack stayer Trip To Eden led throughout to win the $75,000 to the winner group 1 Association Cup final over 720m.

Trip To Eden, a son of Connor's former top stayer Key To Eden, came from last to win his heat in 42.22 so it was no surprise he cut that time back to 42.02sec when he jumped in front in Saturday's final.

Trip To Eden is trained for Connor by Seona Thompson, whose husband Jason prepared Suave Fella, winner of the 2006 Group 1 Paws Of Thunder at Wentworth Park, on Connor's behalf.

Saturday night's fastest time came in the 520m Free-For-All when three-year-old warrior El Magnifico powered to the line to score in 29.63.

Courtesy: Thedogs.com