Jury's Winning Winter Cup Verdict

TONY Brett landed his sixth Group 1 Winter Cup from the past eight runnings and breeder, owner Steve Williams admitted it was the “biggest buzz” he has had in greyhound racing when Jury led throughout to win the 520m feature at Albion Park on Thursday night.

But the race had a down side when hot favourite and track record breaker Mepunga Blazer tore a back muscle in the run and his future on the track could be in doubt.

Jury, a son of Cosmic Chief-Velocity Sheba, held off a late charge by Victorian Hasten Slowly to score by a length and a quarter in 29.,81 with five and a half lengths to It's Dyllan in third.

A $4 chance, Jury is on a comeback trail after tearing a hip support in a heat of the Australian Cup at The Meadows late in February.

The Cup was only his third start since that injury. It took his record to 29 starts for 13 wins and nine placings for $250,000 in stakes.

He had already won last year's Group 1 National Sprint and the Group 2 Lismore Gold Cup.

For Williams it was a greyhound racing “buzz” that was unexpected.

“I gave him a good chance, and Tony (Brett) said the dog was absolutely jumping out of his skin,” said Steve. “But I backed him heavily at good odds mostly for a place. Mepunga Blazer had us all worried.”

Williams and Brett combined for two Winter Cup victories with Glen Gallon the Williams-bred champion who made a world record 15 Group 1 finals.

Jury's second mother Velocity Zoom is a litter sister to Glen Gallon

“That's my sixth Group 1 winner as an owner,” said Steve. “Les Bein (Brisbane Club chairman) and I have been having a running battle over Group 1 wins for a while now. It was nice to draw level with him.”

Brett was in a celebratory mood.

His other Winter Cup winners have been Iso Octane, Flash Reality and Fast Times.

“If there is one thing I have learned in my years of training it is patience,” said Tony. “That's what we had to have with this dog all throughout his career.”
Jury's National Sprint victory came not long after he was returning from an injury-enforced spell.

“And now here we are doing the same again,” said Tony. “This dog doesn't get out of bed in the mornings unless it is for a Group 1,” joked his trainer.
Williams is ever on the lookout for great crosses for his broodbitches and already has a few matings planned for Jury.

The race was all Jury. He began brilliantly off the rails and opened up a huge break on the rest of the field by the back straight.

But Hasten Slowly gave chase from the 600m boxes on but could not peg back the winner.

Queenslanders Peter Sullivan and trainer Peter Wilson were on a high as well when It's Dyllan battled on gamely for a Group 1 third.