Party Mode has claimed the biggest race win of his career after taking out the Group 3 Ladbrokes Casino Cup on Friday evening.
The Craig and Reg Gardoll-prepared runner had flown under the radar for much of the week as kennelmate and recent Mid North Coast Cup winner, Spirit Boy, attracted most of the attention.
But it was the son of Feral Franky x Khatanga Eve who speared out from his Box 3 draw and once he held the fast-starting Gypsy Joker off the fence, he never looked like being run down.
“He’s been a good little dog all the way through but he’s just had his ups and downs. He’s always had the ability…if he nails the start, he’s a very hard dog to beat,” Reg Gardoll said.
“I didn’t think there was any dog in that race that could be strong enough to run him down…he’s a good honest dog. I don’t know if he’s got any other Group races in him but you never know, we might sneak off to Wenty, you never know”
“As long as Craig keeps putting the polish on him, I’ll keep driving him around
Party Mode winning in a time of 27.32, with a 5.5 length margin back to Kingsbrae Wendy for Charlie Northfield. Gypsy Joker finished third for Robert Cooke.
Ladbrokes Casino Cup winner Party Mode. Photo - Lisa Vanderstok
The victory taking Party Mode’s career earnings to more than $85,000 as he racked up his eleventh race win for owner Lance Day.
“We ran second in the Derby to a very good dog up there in QLD [Morton] and now [we’ve won this race] today but I’m tickled pink for our main owner, Lance. We sort of threatened that we would have to win a race with him and this race has come along today, it’s good,” Reg Gardoll added.
“He might even go and buy another dog for us now, we don’t know.”
Party Mode is a full litter brother to Country Classic winner Bella Una and Temora Cup finalist Irinka Daniel.
In the day’s other feature, Masani Girl took out the 2024 Guy The Barman over 411m.
The Chris Field-trained runner jumping beautifully from Box 2 before engaging in a ding-dong battle with Milo Davis for much of the race. The pair engaging in a 400m war before Masani Girl pulled away in the closing stages for a 1.5 length win in a time of 23.19.
Milo Davis finished second while Masani Girl’s litter sister, Movie Girl, ran home for third in another memorable edition of the race conducted in honour of Casino Greyhound Racing Club bar manager, Guy Stewart.
