Spirit Monelli Hands Bolton Second Darwin Cup

TRAINER Steele Bolton scooped six of the 10 races at Darwin on Sunday night including the Group 3 Ladbrokes Darwin Cup with Spirit Monelli.

YOUNG trainer Steele Bolton scooped six of the 10 races at Darwin on Sunday night including the Group 3 Ladbrokes Darwin Cup (537m) with Spirit Monelli.

On an extraordinary night for the 25-year-old conditioner, Bolton claimed the second Darwin Cup of his training career having tasted success in the group 3 flagship back in 2018 with Crocodile Crush.

"It was a very good night … actually it was a great night," Bolton said.

"I didn't think I could win the Darwin Cup but I thought I had a few decent chances in some of the other races. It was just one of those nights that everything fell into place perfectly."

In a gripping Darwin Cup finish, Spirit Monelli ran down red hot favourite He's All Grunt to score by half-a-length in 31.82, while Bolton's other finalists, Rev Fred Sloy and Cawbourne Sasha, finished third and fourth respectively.

"To be honest He's All Grunt is above Darwin class so I thought he'd be very hard to beat," Bolton said.

"So for Spirit Monelli to run him down was a great effort. Ability wise he's the best dog I've put a lead on … it's just that his performances are so hot and cold; you're never sure what you are going to get."

Following Spirit Monelli's Darwin Cup triumph, Bolton declared the son of Magic Sprite would be retired, finishing up with 14 wins from 50 career starts.

"The plan was to retire him after last night regardless of where he finished so it's great he goes out on top," Bolton said.

"Dave Hobby actually sent him to me for last year's Darwin Cup. But he took a little while to settle in and we ended up being about a week behind with things.

"He's been a terrific dog but he's had a couple of tickets and you just never know which Spirit Monelli is going to turn up. Last night we saw the good Spirit Monelli so it's a great way for him to finish.

"He'll make someone a great pet. He's a beautiful dog."  

Just 25 years of age, Bolton currently has 41 greyhounds in his care and has won 97 races in 2020 to boast an unassailable lead in the Darwin Trainers' Premiership.

"I'm fortunate to have some good connections with some trainers interstate to help source dogs … they're not easy to come by," Bolton said.

"I'm very good friends with Tony Rasmussen and through him have got some nice dogs from Stuart Dickinson. Stuart has been a godsend actually and the pup of his that won last night, Cawbourne Rip, has a nice future I think when he matures a bit."

As well as wins with Spirit Monelli and Cawbourne Rip, Bolton also claimed victories on Sunday night with Snoop A Loop, Recreational, Sunset Inferno and Lock In.

"It's a shame that due to coronavirus it didn't have the same feel as other years but that's the world at the moment," Bolton said.

"Hopefully next year things are back to normal and the interstate trainers are back up here whether they have a dog in or not. It's a great week and the usual visitors were missed this year."

Bolton was also quick to heap praise on his left-hand-man Adam Poulter whom he credits much of his success to.

"Adam's a great worker and was probably more excited last night than I was," Bolton said.

"He's a huge part of everything we do here."

 

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