Lucy Lights Up Black Top, Draws Red In Final

A dashing all-the-way 29.31 heat victory has seen National Futurity winner Nangar Lucy qualify fastest for the Group 2 Black Top at The Gardens.

Adam Dobbin15 September 2023

A dashing all-the-way 29.31 heat victory has seen National Futurity winner Nangar Lucy qualify fastest for next Friday night's Group 2 Black Top (515m) at The Gardens.

The group 1 winning daughter of Fernando Bale produced a stunning performance at her The Gardens debut for trainer Dennis Barnes, carving out slick sectionals to score over runner-up Pink Tickles by 8 ¼ lengths.

And her claims for the $40,000-to-the-winner finale where only enhanced at the box draw, landing the prized rails alley.

But there will be no shortage of opposition in next Friday night's decider after Victorian stars Head The Charge and Umberto raced away for impressive heat wins in 29.34 and 29.35 respectively.

Nangar Lucy sets the standard winning heat 3 of the Sires on Ice Black Top for trainer Dennis Barnes #thedogs #blacktop #gardens #greyhoundracing pic.twitter.com/ZvjwdWZXd2
— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) September 15, 2023

Head The Charge – trained by Anthony Azzopardi who is chasing a second Black Top following the win of Uno Suzie back in 2015 – was simply brilliant, getting the job done by 4 ¾ lengths to progress through to the finale.

And the Victorian contingent was strengthened in the final qualifier when Umberto, fresh off his Group 1 Megastar triumph last Thursday, posted a dashing 29.35 win, set up with low-flying early sections of 4.87 and 17.10.

Trained by Jason Thompson, the champion Victorian mentor will also be eyeing a second Black Top success, having won the race with Penthouse back in 2011.

Ladbrokes Megastar champion Umberto has won heat 5 of the Sires on Ice Black Top series. #thedogs #blacktop #gardens #greyhoundracing pic.twitter.com/mbqMIsz7dR
— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) September 15, 2023

Rounding out the heat performances was a memorable double for top local trainer Mark Davidson.

The Brandy Hill conditioner landed the opening qualifier with Fat Boy's Dream in determined fashion in 29.54 before Frisky Felon put on a clinic in heat four, running flying sections en route to a 29.51 heat win.

If successful in next Friday night's Group 2 decider, Frisky Felon will go one better than her dam Left Unsaid, which ran a gallant second to Flying Ricciardo in the 2020 Black Top.

Box Draws – Group 2 Black Top (515m)