Rees Ends Turbulent Week With Classic Glory

FROM agony to ecstasy.

That's the best way to recap the whirlwind week endured by trainer Tom Rees en route to winning the Group 2 Ladbrokes Nowra Puppy Classic Final (520m) in emphatic fashion on Saturday night.

Rees won the $40,000-to-the-winner flagship with Hurricane Reign but in the countdown to the group 2 finale was left dejected after being forced to scratch race favourite, National Derby hero History's Coming, which had drawn the rails alley.

"He's got a minor soft tissue injury on a back leg that swelled up a bit after the heats," Rees said.

"It was a 50/50 call whether I raced him or not but it just wasn't worth the risk. He's too good a dog to roll the dice with and he's got a big campaign coming up in Brisbane for the Flying Amy and Brisbane Cup. It was a precaution more than anything but one I had to take.”

While History's Coming didn't line-up in the Puppy Classic, his litter sister Hurricane Reign did, and what an impression she made, leading throughout in blistering fashion.

"I did a bit of box work with her at Gosford last Wednesday and it looks like it did the trick,” Rees said.

“She's gone 4.18s early which is the record and to win she had to lead a field like that. I said when she was in the Futurity she was still a few months away from being a hardened race dog and we are there now.

“I'll probably take her for the trip to Brisbane as well and trial her and see how we go. With how she performed on Saturday night it's hard not too but there's quite a few races coming up for her.

“And a big wrap to the Nowra Club as well. It was a fantastic night and they made everyone feel really welcome. They put on a great show.”

Hurricane Reign and Tom Rees have won the @Ladbrokescomau Nowra Puppy Classic Final tonight in a PB time of 29.47!#thedogs #greyhoundracing #greyhounds pic.twitter.com/en4xLKbeZT

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) April 27, 2024

Hurricane Reign's all-the-way Puppy Classic triumph in 29.47s extended her record to five wins and 10 minors from just 20 appearances.

She now joins her Group 1 National Derby winning brother History's Coming as a group winner after finishing a gallant runner-up behind Gets Late Early in the Group 1 National Futurity earlier in the year.

Gets Late Early, a daughter of Flying Ricciardo and Poco Dorado, finished third in Saturday night's Puppy Classic decider with her brother Both Bowers Ace filling second 1 ¼ lengths away from the winner.

The Puppy Classic victory by Hurricane Reign continues the thunderous success being enjoyed by progeny of Aston Dee Bee and Furious Not Fast.

In 57 starts, the four in the litter to race have won 19 races and almost $200,000 in stakes at the tantalising strike-rate of 34 per cent. 

Hurricane Reign joins an illustrious honour roll of winners of the Nowra Puppy Classic including Double Twist, Bandit Ned, Sky Wave, Fantastic Spiral and last year's winner, Tarawi Rocky.

In a sign of good sportsmanship heading into Saturday night's decider, Rees withdrew History's Coming from the race on the Wednesday, giving the connections of first reserve Cawbourne Speech ample time to prepare for the finale.

Cawbourne Speech was engaged to go around at Dapto on Thursday night meaning had the dog been scratched late in the week, Cawbourne Speech would have either gone around on the quick back up or not all.

“Maybe the racing gods helped us a bit,” Rees quipped. “It was the right thing to do – you want to see everyone get the best chance possible.”