THE Group 3 Vince Curry Memorial Maiden may be billed as Australia’s richest maiden race, but within Queensland greyhound racing it carries significance well beyond the prizemoney on offer.
On paper, eight lightly raced youngsters will chase a $75,000 first prize when they contest next Thursday night’s 520m final at Q2 Parklands.
In practice, the Vince Curry Memorial is a pressure test – where raw talent is measured against racecraft, composure and readiness on a major stage.
The series honours the late Vince Curry, who died in 1983 aged just 54.
Although Curry never called a greyhound race himself, his impact on Ipswich racing was enduring.
His push to broadcast Saturday night meetings live on radio provided the sport with unprecedented exposure and helped establish Ipswich as a cornerstone of Queensland greyhound racing.
Three semi-finals of the Group 3 feature were run on Sunday night, with storm activity briefly interrupting proceedings, but the racing delivered intrigue, upset and confirmation in equal measure.
The opening semi-final produced the night’s first surprise, with Terra Bella overturning market expectations after finishing fourth in her heat – her debut start – the previous week.
Last week’s fastest heat winner, Our Girl Stella, speared straight to the lead from box rise, but Terra Bella asserted herself around the turn, rolling to the front and digging deep late to score at $13 after firming sharply from $23.
The second semi-final saw heat winner Malawi Rebel as the $3.40 favourite on debut success, but the race took a dramatic turn early.
Emergency runner Sironen Tiger exploded from the boxes, seized control in the opening strides and never looked back, powering away to score by seven lengths and handing trainer Darren Russell an unexpected but richly deserved place in the final.
The third semi-final brought together a trio of Tom Tzouvelis-trained chasers, with Zipping Alladin and Zipping Gressier installed as joint $3.20 favourites.
However, it was Travis Elson-trained Summer’s Dunay who made the decisive statement. A flawless jump allowed him to cross cleanly to the lead, corner with an eight-length advantage and charge to the line to secure his spot in the decider.
History suggests the Vince Curry Memorial rarely concludes with the trophy presentation alone.
Last year’s winner Satoshi, who claimed the final at the former Showgrounds track, has since developed into a reliable open-grade performer, banking more than $111,000 in prizemoney from just 26 starts.
That progression – from maiden to open-class contender – remains the defining hallmark of the Vince Curry Memorial.
