Wow...Phoenix threepeat alive!

A sensational near-record trial at The Meadows on Thursday morning has signalled champion sprinter Wow She’s Fast’s quest for an incredible third straight victory in the $1.65 million The Phoenix is very much alive.

Any doubts over whether Wow She’s Fast would attempt a Phoenix threepeat were scorched as the superstar sizzled over the 525m in a blistering 29.49sec in a solo trial.

Wow She’s Fast delighted – as well as surprised and relieved – champion Pearcedale trainer Kel Greenough and wife Jackie, clocking sections of 5.12sec and 17.58sec, powering home in 11.91sec.

The airborne effort eclipsed Wow She’s Fast’s Meadows PB of 29.56sec, in a heat of the G1 Maturity Classic in July last year, while it was less than two lengths outside Allen Deed’s 29.38sec course record.

Wow She’s Fast’s powerhouse kennelmate Big Energy, which will represent RSN in The Phoenix and is the pre-box draw favourite for the world’s richest greyhound race, also trialled impressively on Thursday, posting 29.61sec.

But all eyes were very much on Wow She’s Fast and the world’s highest earning greyhound ($2,391,995) will now fill Sportsbet’s slot in The Phoenix for the third straight year when she defends her crown at The Meadows on Saturday week, December 16.

“I was a bit shocked and pretty relieved, to be honest,” Kel Greenough said.

“I knew there wasn’t anything wrong with her.

“It’s very difficult to come back after six months off and a couple of serious injuries and perform at your best. She just needed a little bit more galloping and a bit more confidence I suppose.

“The conditions were perfect, I must admit, but it was good to see her do it at the right time.

“I didn’t want to take a spot in the race (The Phoenix) that we didn’t deserve, and I wanted to do the right thing by Sportsbet, because they’ve been fantastic to deal with the whole way through, but she made the decision for us.

“It (the trial time) gives you a chance. We just need a bit of luck with the box draw now!”

Great speculation as to whether or not Wow She’s Fast would line-up in The Phoenix has raged with the three-time Group 1 winner failing to fire in two starts since resuming from six months on the sidelines.

First-up, the February ’20 daughter of My Bro Fabio and Fair Of Face ran sixth in the G1 Topgun, beaten 23.5 lengths, and at her second run back she finished seventh in a Melbourne Cup heat, beaten 11 lengths.

Greenough opted to trial Wow She’s Fast ‘two out’ at Sandown Park last Thursday afternoon, and after setting 29.20sec as the time required to line up in The Phoenix, the reigning Australian and Victorian Greyhound of the Year came from behind to defeat kennelmate Isle Of Rose in 29.35sec.

Further discussions over the weekend led to Thursday’s decisive trial at The Meadows, ahead of Friday’s deadline for slot holders to lock in their runners.

Wow She’s Fast is now $6.50 to go back-to-back-to-back in Sportsbet’s pre-box draw market, with Melbourne Cup runner-up Big Energy $3.50 favourite ahead of Sunday morning’s crucial draw, which will be televised live on Sky 2 from 10.30am.

Wow She’s Fast is overdue for good fortune at The Phoenix box draw.

After winning the inaugural event in 2021 from box four (29.66sec) at just her seventh start, she repeated the dose from the six alley (29.84sec) last year.

Confirmed starters for The Phoenix
(odds thanks to Sportsbet)

• RSN – Big Energy ($3)
• Good Blokes Society – Alpha Zulu ($5)
• Greyhounds HQ – Postman Pat ($5)
• Racing Queensland – Jay Is Jay ($8)
• Ladbrokes – Schillaci ($14)
• Tabcorp – Pass The Buck ($8.50)
• Total Container Solutions – Hector Fawley ($8.50)
• Sportsbet – Wow She’s Fast ($6.50)