Mr. America Highlights Star Quality In Derby

TO get a gauge on the star quality engaged in Wednesday night's Listed Western Districts Derby (450m), now to be staged at Geelong,  you need look no further than Mr. America.

Winner at eight of his 10 career starts with a further two placings, the Jason Thompson-trained sprinter heads into the $20,000-to-the-winner feature on the strength of a sizzling 24.82 heat success at Ballarat.

At Ballarat, where the final was meant to be staged, he's raced on five occasions for five slashing wins – credentials that you'd imagine would see him at the pointy end of betting.

But not so.

Bookmaker Neds is currently offering as much as $8.50 about the hugely talented youngster which Thompson admits to having a big opinion of.

"It's as good a field of young up and coming greyhounds as I've seen," Thompson said.

"It will be interesting to look back at the end of the year and see the kind of form that's come out of this race. A few of these will be clashing in some big races over the next 12 months.

"The caliber of dog is sensational."

Thompson lines up two finalists for the Listed feature with Mr. America (box five) joined by 24.87 heat winner Aussie Secret (box seven).

"I've got a lot of time for Mr. America," Thompson offered.

"He's still very young but he's a very smart dog. He can do it in front or from behind and makes good decisions. Even though he wants the fence he had box eight at Ballarat two runs back and held a straight line.

“And he's like that at home as well – just very sensible.

"He's got some size about him and is tough – he ticks a lot of boxes."

And it's those very attributes that Thompson believes can see the son of Se Tali Sundance in the finish come Wednesday night.

"I think the pink Blackpool Flash holds the key to the race," Thompson said.

"It's a race where I don't think anyone has a good handle on how it will play out.

“But the pressure is going to be on from box rise that is for sure."

Leading the charge for the finale is rising superstar Silver Lake which eclipsed the track record last week with a rampaging 24.69 heat romp.

The son of Fernando Bale, winner at five of his six appearances, will exit box three as a solid $2.45 favourite for owner-trainer Lyn Gough.

"If he wins he's every bit the superstar he looks like he can be," Thompson said.

"He's going to have pressure coming at him from both sides and any weak links in any of the eight finalists will be found out. If we can't win I'd love to see Lyn take it out … she's a lovely lady with a very good dog."

The chances in the stellar field don't stop there either.

The Glenn Rounds-trained Aston Rupee powers into the final following an impressive 24.98 heat win where he got the better of prolific city winner Music Event late.

Masked Avenger, winner at six of his eight starts, has drawn the rails after never shirking his task when runner-up in his qualifier behind Aussie Secret.

And that was much the same with the seconds recorded by Ferdinand Boy and Blackpool Flash, the duo heading into the series fresh off feature race victories.

Between the eight finalists they've faced the starter on 125 times for a staggering 80 victories.

* The interview for this story with Jason Thompson was conducted before the race was shifted to Geelong