Aston Barak A Shooting Star At Goulburn

A BOX draw to suit, finally, and near record first and second sections saw Aston Barak land the inaugural running of the Southern Stars (440m) at Goulburn on Friday afternoon for owner Ray Borda and trainer Jason Fletcher.

The Aston Dee Bee-Fantastic Skye dog led throughout in a near record 24.38 to hold off a late charge from recent Group 1 Vic Peters winner Gatlin with three and a half lengths to Paua Of Buddy, luckless early, but a storming finisher into third.

The $50,00 winner's cheque brought the dog's record to 45 starts for 20 wins and $130,000 in stakes.

Borda was high in praise of Jason Fletcher after the victory.

“I like doing business with him,” said Borda. “He's an honest guy and a good dog trainer.”

Aston Barak started $13, one of the outsiders in the final but Fletcher tipped Borda the dog could win.

“I know everyone says it, but this dog has drawn badly in 90 percent of his races,” said Borda.

⭐ Straight to the front and let them chase! ⭐

Aston Barak has blitzed them at @goulburn_grc in the GRNSW #SouthernStars today, running blistering sectionals of 5.47 and 10.70 to score an overall win of 24.38 – and he's just won $50,000!

Full Results: https://t.co/z5LRQn6x32 pic.twitter.com/mHfxRIX8Ld

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) July 29, 2022

“But, Jason was confident after good recent trials and when he came up with the eight in the final he said he would be hard to beat.

“And his record out at Goulburn has been good.”

Borda and Fletcher have a close greyhound racing relationship.

“Jason has a number of good broodbitches and when they come on season we do a deal,” said Borda.

“I organise the sire, Jason whelps the litter and I buy the lot. Then when they are ready to race I send him back some of the better ones. That's what happened with Aston Barak.”

Borda has Fletcher to thank for helping produce his latest champ Aston Rupee.

“I was looking for a KC And All straw and someone told me Jason had one,” said Borda. “I rang him and bought it. That's the litter that produced Aston Rupee.”

Borda admits Aston Barak is named after the former US President but was quick to own up to not being a Democrat.

“I have some fun naming the pups,” he said. “But occasional I will run out of names, until I start on a new theme.

“At the moment I am naming a lot of the pups with a gangster theme, or actors who have played gangsters in the movies. I've got an Aston Deniro.”

He also handed out a tip from the Fletcher kennel.

“Jason has a pup of mine called Astron Cigar, named after the champion US racehorse,” he said. “He's a very fast dog and about to be produced.”