Sunset Bourbski Sparks Fireball Fever

SUNSET Bourbski has always shown the potential to mix it with the heavy-hitters of the Australian staying ranks.

Owners Ross Davidson and Jason Lyne knew she could.

As did trainers Andrea and Tom Dailly.

And it seems now so does Sunset Bourbski following her thunderous heat victory of the Group 3 The Fireball (725m) at The Meadows on Saturday night.

"I wouldn't say it was a total surprise because the ability has always been there with her," said part-owner and breeder Ross Davidson.

"But it was great to see her show everyone what we know she is capable of. She's got a big engine but because she's so quiet it's taken her a while to build up that confidence which is everything in racing.

"I've been saying to people she'll be the best stayer in the country by the end of the year. And I really think she can be. Maybe even sooner."

Sunset Bourbski went into Saturday night's opening Fireball heat largely unwanted by punters at 16/1.

But after finding the front down the straight the first time around the race was as good as over, with Sunset Bourbski defeating the favourite He Shall Power by 1 ¾ lengths in 42.69.

The second heat was won by Sandown track record holder Here's Tears in a much slower 43.20 for trainer Rob Britton.

But with a star-studded field set to line-up in the $25,000-to-the-winner feature, Davidson is under no illusions as to the task at hand for the rising talent.

"Here's Tears is the fastest dog in the final but from box five he might get squeezed up a bit at the start," Davidson offered.

"We wanted seven or eight so to draw seven is ideal. Actually with where they are all drawn I don't think it could have worked out better had we picked the boxes ourselves."

Winner at five of her 23 starts, Sunset Bourbski is a daughter of Fernando Bale and 2015 Group 1 Bold Trease winner Bourbski Fever.

Bourbski Fever was purchased by Davidson and Lyne as an unraced pup before going on to reach group 1 glory under the tutelage of the Dailly camp.

"It's still by far the best night I've had on a greyhound track," Davidson said of Bourbski Fever's Bold Trease win.

"Being there to hear the crowd roar when she loomed into the race is hard to put into words. I've been in greyhounds since the 1970s and it took me that long to experience something like it. You hope everyone can at some stage."

And while Bourbski Fever was hugely successful on the track, the prized bitch is proving just as successful off it in the breeding barn.

"Her first litter to Barcia Bale she had two pups and then three in the Fernando Bale litter and just recently another three to Allen Deed," Davidson added.

"When I was breaking-in Sunset Bourbski she was a lot like her mum in that she'd make a house pet in a heartbeat if you wanted.

"She's very fussy and doesn't like the rough stuff which is why it's taken her a while to hit her straps with racing.

"But she's always been able to run. I remember getting a call from the Daillys just before Christmas telling me that she'd trialled 20.70 on their track at home – their free for all race dogs run about 20.90.

"She was running home in 12.60 odd and Tom told me the only two dogs they'd had run home in that were Heston Bale and Bekim Bale.

“She was racing down on form a few months back so we decided to bring her home for a bit to do some work in the bullring. Luckily at the time there were some nice restricted races around to build her confidence up in. She's come back a whole new dog I think.”

In a wide open betting race, favourite for Saturday night's finale with Sportsbetting.com.au is Here's Tears at $4.00, just ahead of He Shall Power at $4.20 and Sunset Bourbski at $4.60.

Group 1 winner True Detective is $5.50 from box two with former SA trained stayer, Sir Truculent, the unlucky runner from the heats, $6.50 from his box six draw.