By Molly Haines
Dramatical has stamped himself as the sport’s newest superstar, producing a breathtaking performance to win the Group 1 Sportsbet Australian Cup at just his 18th career start at The Meadows.
The young talent rose to the occasion on one of greyhound racing’s biggest stages, delivering a near-perfect display for Team Thompson.
“We had a feeling he might be able to do it,” Luke Thompson said.
Dramatical exploded from the boxes, producing his sharpest start to date and clocking 5.08 seconds early, driving hard underneath the field to take control.
Given the confidence Team Thompson had placed in the youngster throughout the carnival, it was easy to declare the race over approaching the catching pen the first time around – even with fellow Group 1 winner Slick Splits long in pursuit.
Slick Splits and Consigliere rounded out the placings in the $440,000 feature.
Dramatical stopped the clock in a best of the night time of 29.57 seconds.
The victory continues an extraordinary rise for the son of Bernardo and Shallow Witts, who only 22 days ago claimed his first Group race when winning the Sportsbet Warragul Cup.
Now, barely three weeks later, he has secured one of the sport’s most prestigious prizes and remarkably, he hasn’t even turned two yet.
“He’s won 10 of his last 11 starts – I can’t recall a dog rising like he has,” Thompson said.
“Every race is special and now he’s on the honour roll.”
Sky Racing expert Nathan Rooney was equally stunned by the young star’s performance.
“17.48 seconds up the back is unheard of,” Rooney said.
“He shouldn’t be doing the things he is doing so early in his career.”
Owned and bred by Amanda Tullio, Dramatical’s rapid rise looks set to continue, with the star chaser already set to back up quickly.
He will head to Ballarat on Monday night, where he is scheduled to contest a heat of the Sportsbet Ballarat Cup.
