Bobby Bounds To Greg Fahey Glory

TASSIE-bred star Bobby Bound reasserted his authority as the top stayer in the Apple Isle with a triumphant display to win Thursday night's Greg Fahey Middle Distance Championship Final (599m) at Hobart.

The March '14 son of Decembrist and Disney Bound stepped away well from box seven, settling midfield before starting to work his way through the pack, while Dan Road set the pace to lead the field comfortably towards the top turn.

Swinging around the home bend, Bobby Bound hit top gear shifting down towards the rail, halfway down the straight it appeared that Dan Road may hold on, but the Robin Stocks-trained chaser dug deep forging his way to the front and surging clear to score by 1.75 lengths in 34.53.

Dan Road held on gamely for second, with Cosmicly Baroque filling the trifecta back in third spot.

"It was a very nice win – extremely satisfying," trainer Robin Stocks told.

"Bobby Bound is in great condition for a dog that's 4 ½ year-old – a few starts back he did put in an ordinary at Launceston over 720m, and I just couldn't put my finger on it why but a changed a few things around and it has done wonders to him.

"I was slightly concerned with the dog drawing out wide and when he jumped that well, which has never happened like that before, Bobby does have the tendency to stay out there but he got down to the rail and certainly raced up to his best which was great to watch," Stocks said.

Bobby Bound has raced 102 times and has won 22 races with 41 minors and just over $69K in stakes.

He has been a very good dog throughout his career – making this year's Group 2 Launceston Cup and also victories in a Launceston Cup Consolation and with two medley features to boast as well.

"You look at this dog's record and it took him the best part of nineteen starts to crack his maiden.

"I sent the dog over to the mainland with Simon Barker and he just took his time and preserved with dog – he eventually came home after twenty-four starts – winning six races – he was definitely more a matured dog.

Robin takes pride breeding Bobby Bound, having raced the dam Disney Bound winning 9 of 45 races.

"Bobby comes from a good bloodline and Disney Bound (El Galo x Dark Marne) his mum is a litter sister to El Brooklyn, I purchased her as a pup and she would have to be one of the best dogs I have trained before Bobby Bound," he added.

Risdon Vale-based Stocks has been a trainer for ten years now and currently prepares five runners.

Bobby Bound will be out to chase a feature-race double this Thursday night in the Chinatown Lad Feature at Hobart, where the black chaser has drawn box six and is expected to start the warm favourite against arch rival Dan Road out in box two.

"It's mostly the same field so again Bobby will need luck and he should be able to run his race.