Jubilant owner Con Hansimikali and trainer Wally Lutiger had their pre-race concerns quashed after Magic Fancy overpowered a stellar cast to win the Dapto Puppy Classic (520m) final on Thursday night.
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Connections had feared a box three draw for Magic Fancy, who veers right after the lids lift, would cruel any chance he had in the $75,000-to-the-winner final, the showpiece of the region's greyhound racing calendar.
But Magic Fancy trailed Dapto Maiden winner Dark Assassin (box seven) into the back straight, before collaring the $2.60 favourite turning for home.
"When we first bought him we didn't know that was what he was first doing," Hansimikali said of Magic Fancy's box manners. "Dennis Barnes, who we bought him off, didn't know he was doing that either.
"He still won, but he found a bit hard. He might change later on, who knows? A dog does what he does.
"I reckon he baulks the other dogs and maybe it helps him."
Magic Fancy, the fastest qualifier for the final, started a $3.20 second elect behind Dark Assassin for the climax of the stunted series. He held Dark Assassin at bay by one-and-three-quarter lengths with a moderate winning time of 29.97s.
The greyhound fetched $10,000 at last year's Dapto Puppy Auction, almost double the price paid for any of the other seven finalists.
Winsome Charlee (box six) thundered home for third after copping severe interference at the first turn.
