Maybe Yesterday Reigns Supreme In Healesville Cup

MAYBE Yesterday dethroned Unleash Collinda as the king of the Healesville straight with a brilliant victory in Healesville Cup on Sunday afternoon.

Despite recording the fourth fastest heat win, recent group 3 National Straight Track Championship winner Unleash Collinda started a $1.90 favourite for the $87,000 group 2 final, punters undoubtedly swayed by a favourable draw (box 3) and his brilliant record of 13 wins from 16 starts over the Cup distance.

However it was Maybe Yesterday ($3.40) which made the better start, crossing the field from box seven courtesy of a personal best first split from 14 starts at the venue – 6.39 – and assume early control.

With Maybe Yesterday moving to the rail, Unleash Collinda was forced to switch to the outside and after 100m the pair had cleared away from their rivals.

Today's hero

MAYBE YESTERDAY was too fast for his rivals in the Group 2 @sportsbetcomau #HealesvilleCup Final at @HVLGreys, notching his 20th win from 31 starts.

After being challenged by UNLEASH COLLINDA, he powered away to his first country cup.#GreyhoundRacing pic.twitter.com/bv04nX2Suc

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) September 10, 2023

The pair matched strides through the middle stages but with 100m to run, Maybe Yesterday found another gear and accelerated away to claim the $55,000 first prize by three lengths in 18.784 seconds. The winning time shaved 0.015 off Allkel To Excell's race record, set in 2015.

The win was just the third time in 12 encounters that Maybe Yesterday finished ahead of Unleash Collinda. It was his 10th victory from 14 starts at Healseville since 21/5/23 (he finished second to Unleash Collinda in each of those four defeats) and improved his career record to 20 wins from 31 starts and over $161,000 in prize money.

It was trainer Andrew Paraskevas's first group race success and was one that holds particular significance being a race that he and his father John have long coveted.

It also continued his remarkable run of recent success, having now won 28 of his last 60 starters with 23 minor placings.