Getty turned Acton Grand Final Day into a showcase of grit, leading throughout to land the Sprinters Cup, an Open Handicap over 1206 metres, on Acton Grand Final Day.

Beginning cleanly, the five-year-old gelding by Capitalist rolled to the top and travelled strongly. He was headed in the straight by the odds-on favourite Take The Rap, but refused to yield. Under a determined ride from Coriah Keatings, Getty rallied, regained the lead inside the final furlong and pulled away to score by three-quarters of a length from a quality field.

The result headlined a milestone afternoon for Keatings. Getty’s victory completed her treble on the program and marked the 100th winner of her riding career.

It was a family affair for the stable. Earlier in the program, trainer Matt Kelley’s father, David, saddled Sorastorm to win the 1080 metre Maiden Plate, also ridden by Keatings, setting the tone for a memorable card for the Kelleys and their supporters.

Getty’s resilience was underscored by a quick turnaround. He was on a three-day backup after drawing barrier 10 at Albury on Tuesday, where he covered ground and finished down the track. Back to Canberra and onto the synthetic, he found his rhythm in front and showed the grit that has become his hallmark this campaign.

The gelding has proven a shrewd buy. Picked up on Inglis Digital as a nine-start maidener, he broke his maiden at his first run for the stable and has continued to build. A late maturer who is now putting the pieces together, his overall career stands at 29 starts for 4 wins, 7 seconds and 4 thirds, with prizemoney beyond $200,000. 

Congratulations to all Connections: Mr E J Kelly, Mr P W Cassim, Mrs J G Cassim, Mr M C J Lane, Mr R J Spurway, Exo Racing, Mr G B Burke, Mr K O’rourke, Mr R N Wells, Mr L B Rankin, Mr D J Spratt, Mrs N Whiting, Mr B M Smith, Mr G Phillips, M Atkinson, Mr L K Southwell, Mr A Lees, Mr M J Beaumont, C J Smith.