Winters' Chasing Grafton Feature Double

GRAFTON locals Des and Debbie Winters get their chance for a timely feature race double when half brothers Demander Valley and Shilo Valley take on the July Maiden and Sprinters Cup on Wednesday night.

The Winters are the only kennel with runners in each of the feature finals.

Demander Valley (My Bro Fabio-Wattle Valley) has drawn the coveted rails in the July Maiden (407m) and Des says “he will not leave the rail at any time in the final”.

Shilo Valley (Bralyn County-Wattle Valley) comes out of the six in the Sprinters Cup final (407m) but the Winters' are not concerned by his draw.

“Demander Valley hugs the rails,” said Des. “His run to win his heat last week was full of heart and I know he can run the times any of his rivals showed.

“He is pretty handy, but not up to Shilo Valley at this stage even though he is only a baby.

“There is a lot of improvement left in him.”

Des would not be drawn on the hardest to beat in the Maiden final.

“It is such an open race and is always a hard race to win,” he said. “Some great dogs have won it, and some champions have been beaten in it over the years.”

Of Shilo Valley, he says the dog is lucky to be back racing having spent a year on the sidelines with a torn stomach muscle.

“Generally they tear a stomach muscle long ways, but he did his across,” said Des. “It was pretty bad and he's an on-going maintenance job to keep him on the racetrack. We work on it every day with the laser.”

Shilo Valley has won 18 of his 44 starts and eight of those have come at Grafton, seven over the distance of the Cup final.

“I think the one and the eight will be the hardest to beat in the Cup final,” said Des.

“Our bloke goes straight at the start.”

Shilo Valley chased home likely final favourite Cop A Chevy in their heat beaten a length in 22.92.