Creed Captures Emotion-Charged Straight Track Cup

Prince Creed – with perhaps a little help from above – has won the Richmond Straight Cup Final (324m) sparking a flood of emotional post race scenes.

A stellar field came together for the running of the $25,000-to-the-winner decider where all the sentimental backing was with Prince Creed.

It was only last Tuesday week that Prince Creed's owner-trainer Paul Steedman tragically passed away from a suspected heart attack just hours after his gun sprinter scored at Richmond in emphatic fashion.

Following Steedman's shock passing, at just 64 years of age, it was left to his wife Jen to decide whether the in-form sprinter would contest the Cup series under the care of good friend Paul Roach.

He's done it!

Prince Creed has taken out the @richmond_greys Straight Cup for the late Paul Steedman this morning in a thrilling finish – the Prince prevailing over Rebel Garth and Wells Of Silence.

Full Results: https://t.co/NaLOiTA0Ej#thedogs #greyhoundracing pic.twitter.com/SnEu6VH4eN

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) February 4, 2023

A grief stricken Jen ultimately gave the green-light to contest the series and the son of Fernando Bale came out and won his heat last weekend in soul-stirring fashion.

All the build up heading into Saturday's star-studded finale was around Prince Creed and he delivered in spades, carrying ‘Steedys' name to victory for the final time in the most fitting of goodbyes. 

“He was an angel on earth and now he's an angel from above,” said an emotional Paul Roach after the win.

"He was an angel on earth, he'll be an angel up there too."

There were emotional scenes at @richmond_greys today, with Prince Creed winning the Richmond Straight Cup for the late Paul Steedman.

We spoke to Jenny Steedman and caretaker trainer Paul Roach after the win.#thedogs pic.twitter.com/SRA2tITOfa

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) February 4, 2023

“It was the race he wanted to win – he planned for this and had already nominated him – and to be able to win it in his honour means the world to his whole famly.

“It's been a tough few weeks for everyone involved but this is a ray of sunshine with Paul looking down on all of us I'm sure. His last runner to be a winner – in a race like this – it couldn't be better and something we'll all remember forever.”

In the lead-up to the emotion-charged final Paul Roach, a close friend of ‘Steedy' for 30 years, said the perfect result would be a dead-heat between Prince Creed and Rebel Garth, the latter which he owns.

And he remarkably almost got his wish with Rebel Garth finishing a gallant runner-up, just a half-head away in the slashing time of 17.20, the second fastest ever time behind Mr. America's 17.11 track record.

Finishing a gallant third only a half-length away was Wells Of Silence for Frank and Tracey Hurst.

It may only be the start of February but it's hard to imagine a more heart-warming victory in 2023 with ‘Steedy's' name to be etched into the Richmond record books forever.