Maybe Yesterday Set For Straight Track Stoush

ANDREW Paraskevas is hoping Maybe Yesterday can continue his kennel's phenomenal recent run when he takes his place in Sunday's Victorian Straight Track Championship Final at Healesville.

The son of boom sire Bernardo stormed into the final following his victory over Quinlan Bale in his heat in 19.05, the fastest time of the meeting.

“He's going terrific,” said Paraskevas.

“He's come back from a spell in good form. I think the whole litter has started to hit their straps, and at two and a half have learnt how to race more consistently. All of them are going quite well.”

So well in fact that since May 28, Paraskevas has won 24 races from 49 starts (with 19 placings), including a four week period in which he prepared 22 starters for 12 wins and 10 seconds.

Maybe Yesterday has been a key part of that success, his win last Sunday being the 16th up the Healesville straight and ninth victory in his last 10 starts.

But Paraskevas said his success up the straight was by circumstance and not by design.

After a niggling injuries sidelined him for a number of weeks, Maybe Yesterday resumed at Healesville and had no reason to leave.

“I like to bring them back up the straight, and he kept going well and I thought that the stake money is the same if you race there or anywhere really – the Free For Alls are worth such good money now – and there's been heats and finals and all these races have fallen in his lap.

No ifs, buts or maybes

MAYBE YESTERDAY comfortably accounted for his rivals in the second heat of the Victorian Straight Track Championship at @HVLGreys.

MAYBE YESTERDAY has won his last three races, nine of his last 10 starts and 18 of 27 overall.#GreyhoundRacing pic.twitter.com/60JFEYqH5o

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) August 13, 2023

“I reckon he'll run 500m. His Healesville form seemed better than his circle form (but) there was never any real reason for it because when he did trial around the circle – and he hasn't for a while now – he'd go phenomenal.

“But circumstances have kept him there because every second week there seemed to be a race for him so I just haven't thought about going elsewhere with him.”

The Victorian Straight Track Championship has attracted a field worthy of any Victorian provincial Cup and features group performed greyhound Kelsey Bale, Quinlan Bale, and Healesville track record holder Unleash Collinda.

Maybe Yesterday and Unleash Collinda are no strangers to the straight or to each other, the pair lining up for the tenth time against each other on Sunday.

While Unleash Collinda claimed the honours in their first seven encounters, Maybe Yesterday has had the upper hand in the last two, however the draw has Paraskevas on tenterhooks going into Sunday.

“There's not that much between them, maybe 0.2 (of a second). He's had the wood on him in his last two, but I don't know about this week.

“I don't mind him off the pink, I just don't like what's drawn underneath him. Cybertruck (7) has speed and likes to use a bit of the track which is not great, and Unleash Collinda has drawn one so he should get his chance off the inside.

“It's a terrific group of dogs. I hate to say this, but I can see us missing a place.

“Drawn a touch awkward you can't afford to give dogs like that much. There was only two lengths between them all last week, and that's all it takes in a good race. You can't run them down when they're running 18.80 up front.

“If he can get past the seven early he doesn't mind being down the middle of the track, but whatever will be, will be.

“If we get through to the final we'll have an advantage over the interstate dogs.”

The winner and runner-up on Sunday will progress to the group 3 National Straight Track Championship, also at Healesville, on Saturday 26 August.

Beyond this series, Paraskevas has earmarked the Healesville Cup – a race his father has always wanted to win – before a return to circle racing.