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  • Thursday, 13 Jan, 2022,
  • by Peter Quilty

Ulysses’ journey for a ‘Golden Ticket’

Versatile Victorian star Aston Ulysses starts his chase for a ‘Golden Ticket’ at Albion Park tonight.

Trained by Paul Abela, Aston Ulysses is attempting to seek exemption from the heats and automatic entry into the $200,000 to-the-winner Group 1 Gold Bullion (520m) on February 3.

That’s a ‘dangling carrot’ for any greyhound that claims the G3 Golden Ticket series (520m), which kicks off with four heats.

Retired Victorian superstar Sennachie landed the ‘golden double’ in 2020 and Abela is hopeful Aston Ulysses can emulate the feat.

In fact, it would be a Gold Bullion ‘three-peat’ for the Vics if Aston Ulysses was successful as another retired megastar, Shima Shine, won last year’s event.

Flying the flag solo for the Vics, Aston Ulysses (Box 5) will contest Heat 1 (Race 3 – 8.19pm) of the Golden Ticket and is a $5.50 chance on TAB behind NSW sensation Louis Rumble at $1.30.

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Last week, Aston Ulysses finished third to another NSW star, Jungle Deuce, in the G2 Golden Sands final (600m) at Albion Park. Fellow Victorian McCooly’s Lad was second.

Aston Ulysses – a son of four-time G1-winning ‘staying sweetheart’ Sweet It Is – has raced on 51 occasions for 17 wins, 13 seconds and 11 thirds with stakes totalling $110,635. He’s only been unplaced twice in his past 16 starts.

He was a finalist in the G3 Sir John Dillon Memorial (595m) at Sandown Park and G3 Wentworth Park Gold Cup (720m).

Pawnote: Last night, Abela’s kennel champ Five Star made a brilliant return to racing when successful over 545m at Ballarat. He clocked a stunning 30.34sec – only .02sec off the 30.32sec track record set by My Bro Kade on January 23, 2019.  

WATCH: Aston Ulysses (3) defeats local idol Extra Malt (8) in a G2 Golden Sands heat at Albion Park.

Peter QuiltyPeter Quilty

Peter Quilty

Peter Quilty has more than three decades of experience as assistant editor of Victorian Greyhound Weekly. He was editor of GRV monthly magazine The Adviser (2001-09) and owner/publisher of Australian Greyhound Monthly. He also served on the selection panel for the inaugural GRV ‘Hall of Fame’ inductees and for several years was an adjudicator on the Victorian GOTY. He’s also published greyhound racing yearbooks and wrote the ‘Bold Trease’ video script.

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