Weslyn All The Rage For Silver Collar

STAR stayer Dyna Weslyn will load away in trap five deeply into the red to win Sunday's prestigious $100,000 Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar at the Manukau Stadium over the demanding 779m distance.

The Craig Roberts mentored stayer was clearly superior in last Sunday's heats when she clocked a slick 46.36s.

Compare her time to the more sedate 47.04s time the other heat winner Bigtime Chloe required for her trainer Mark Goodier. In other words that's around eleven lengths slower. Actually the first five stayers to finish in the first heat all clocked a quicker time than the second heat winner.

Dyna Weslyn recently shattered the Addington 732m track record and there's no question that this race is hers to lose, even after drawing poorly.

"She pulled up fantastic from her heat and she's quite full of herself. I reckon there's further improvement in her and she's all set to go on Sunday," confirmed Roberts.

Victorian trainer Gerry O'Keefe trained the classy stayer Ring The Bell to the first of his two Silver Collar victories. He will line up two stayers on Sunday. Vandagambo caught the eye in the solid manner he finished for his four length heat second to Dyna Weslyn, while Billy's Bake set the pace prior to being run down half a length by Bigtime Chloe.

"My boys are terrific – they pulled up an absolute treat. I'm eyeing the generous portion of the stake that New Zealand allocates to the minor place getters. If I can get a podium finish I'll be rapt. I can see Vandagambo settling back along the rail from his draw (trap one) and then finish strongly, while I expect Billy's Bake to contest the early pace.

"Both of them are hardened and ready to go after a steady diet of Angle Park 731m races," advised O'Keefe, about the pair of stayers who are part owned and were bred by Melbourne greyhound commentator James Van de Maat.  

It would be foolhardy to ignore the stake earning claims held by Rippin' Sam in this event. The Group 1 winner didn't receive any racing favours during his heat and it was only a late rally by him that saw this Angela Turnwald prepared stayer snatch his final spot.

"Drawing out in trap eight is likely to help him – hopefully he'll get clear air early out there, unlike what happened to him in his heat (impeded racing passage). I think back to his Palmerston (North) 720m race when he looped right around the outside of the field (to win). You wouldn't even know that he raced over 779m on Sunday," commented the trainers partner Paul Freeman who also added similar comments about the other luckless kennel runner Ebby Ripper. She is Sunday's first reserve.   

It was a surreal feeling for Goodier after punters were rocked by the $76.90 win dividend that Bigtime Chloe paid.

"I was in total disbelief when she won. She's a tough greyhound who will run all day. She was bouncing around on Monday and I'm really looking forward to the final," he stated.

Qualifying his stayer Shooters Hill for the big dance is a dream come true for the youngest trainer represented in the rich final. Sam Lozell wasn't even born when his recently deceased grandfather trained the winner of the 1995 edition of the Silver Collar.

Shooters Hill is a massive sized dog in terms of stayers, weighing in at a hefty 38kgs. He's a known tardy starter who fairly charged home late to grab his heat third placing.

"This is a dream come true for me to have a Silver Collar finalist – I'm blown away. He was pretty much last all the way, then he powered home. He's so big that it takes him most of the race to wind up. It's a tough race, but it's really awesome to be in it, especially for poppa," explained an emotional Lozell.

Canterbury trainer Gary Cleeve provides two finalists and Classy Witch must be afforded a place chance after her sound heat third when she whacked away solidly during the run home behind Dyna Weslyn. Kennelmate Know Anxiety, hasn't won a staying race of any description and that factor won't change on Sunday. She was sighted fairly rocketing home late for her heat fourth placing.

"I feel my best chance is Classy Witch who hopefully can bounce away and take a sit behind Dyna Weslyn. I thought Know Anxiety was brave in the way she muscled up and then strongly finished off her effort. They have both pulled up great and I'll be happy with a minor stake in that field," advised Cleeve.       

Sunday is the 49th running of the Silver Collar and for commentator Peter Earley it will be his 47th collar call. His contribution is recognized by the running of the Peter Earley Classic on Sunday (race 8).