Corykodi Claims Devonport Cup Decider

QUEENSLAND sprinter Corykodi gave owner Claude Dacey and trainer Eric Haldane one of their biggest thrills in greyhound racing when taking out the $25,000 to-the-winner Group 3 Dowling McCarthy Tyres Devonport Cup on Tuesday afternoon.

QUEENSLAND sprinter Corykodi gave owner Claude Dacey and trainer Eric Haldane one of their biggest thrills in greyhound racing when taking out the $25,000 to-the-winner Group 3 Dowling McCarthy Tyres Devonport Cup on Tuesday afternoon.

 Corykodi, an April '16 son of Paw Licking, passed his second Tassie group race appearance with flying colours, continuing his love affair with the north-west circuit with an all-the-way victory in the final.

After winning his heat in a slashing 25.86, the white and black chaser started third favourite at $5.00 from box two, with Despacito starting favourite at $2.90 from box five ahead of Just Browsing from box seven at $3.80.

Corykodi came out running and railed through to outpace veteran Hello Nugget into the first turn.

The white and black sprinter skipped clear whilst his major rivals met trouble and held Hello Nugget at bay, scoring by 2 ½ lengths in 25.56, taking his phenomenal record to 27 wins from 58 starts and a cool $113,411 in prizemoney.

"I was confident because I thought if the dog could lead, he was a chance," Claude Dacey said.

"The draw (box two) looked to suit him being on the inside as there was plenty of speed in the race and a couple of dogs that went with him early held up the outside runners, which gave this dog the run he needed to get away and let him run his race.

"Corykodi and the rest of the litter have been great performers right from the get-go," stated Dacey.

Like his sire, Corykodi kicked off his career in the time-honoured Pop Northfield Memorial Maiden at Casino, which has been the form line of many  top chasers throughout the years, including the likes of fellow group winners Cosmic Bonus and Tripum.

Gilberton-based Claude Dacey did knock back offers over $30,000 early on in Corykodi's career.

"Everybody questioned whether this bloke would run 500 metres at Albion Park when he first started off and he broke 30 there on a few occasions and got better over time. His best attribute is his early speed which gives him every chance," Claude added.

Claude credits Tuesday's victory to the recent efforts of long-time friend and respected trainer Eric Haldane.

The Lauderdale-based trainer has enjoyed plenty of success through out his training career since the early eighties, having put the polish to Wary's Desire (x Wary Suspect) winning the Launceston Cup in 1993 and Welder Jack taking the Queensland Cup at Beenleigh in 1997.

"Eric and I have been mates for many years having both lived at Gilberton. He is a good man with a dog and knows how to get the best out of them. The plan now would be to take Corykodi to Launceston and give a look before the Cup heats," said Claude.

Claude, who turns 85 in July, says that this Paw Licking litter may be his last runners.

"I'm not getting any younger, though at this stage I've go three sisters from Corykodi's litter that will likely come on season shortly, I will choose which one to breed with and probably sell a few pups and keep one or two," he added.

 

 

Latest News Articles