Huxley Chasing Devonport Cup Glory

EXCITING sprinter Huxley will look to add group status to his record in this year's Group 3 Devonport Cup, following a sensational debut at the circuit last Wednesday afternoon for trainer Paul Abela.

 Connections of the son of Kinloch Brae and Dainty Banquet elected to send the former New South Wales chaser to astute conditioner Mick Stringer in Tassie before last month's Group 1 Hobart Thousand, qualifying for the final with a stylish heat performance.

Last Wednesday at Devonport, starting the $1.30 favourite from box eight, the brindle dog jumped well to then display strong acceleration, leaving the top turn with a handy break.

In a world of his own, Huxley continued to power away entering the home straight, on the lure he scored by 6 ¾ lengths from Fishing Ducks and Droopy's Jacket in a flying time of 25.43.

It was the greyhounds' second Tasmanian win and his 15^th career victory overall.

"That was sensational, this dog is a quality chaser," said trainer Paul Abela of Huxley.

"Mick Stringer has done a tremendous job with the dog for myself and owners, he was really unlucky in the Hobart Thousand Final and if he had drawn closer to the rail instead of box seven that night, I think he would have run an even better race, knowing he loves to rail.

"Huxley trialled between races last week at Devonport and went 25.34 which even surprised Mick thinking how fast this dog is. His run on Wednesday showed that he benefitted with a look at the track. I wasn't too pleased and slightly concerned with box eight."

The Bacchus Marsh-based chaser has only been in Paul Abela's kennels for ten starts since October.

"Tony and George Alvaro bought the dog from Sydney and he'd been trialling the place down since I got him, we entered for the heats of the Geelong Cup and he was a little underdone but since then has run fast times at three other tracks," added Paul.

"He ran 25.09 at Ballarat and that was before the Cup heats, I took him to The Meadows and he ran best of the night in 30.02. He's been in the Geelong Cup heats, Ballarat Cup heats and Hobart Thousand so I haven't missed him, knowing the ability he has to be in these races."

Abela believes that the dog will only benefit from his time in Tasmania.

"As planned the dog will go into the heats of the Devonport Cup next Tuesday, we are hoping for an inside draw and he's due for a change of luck, having drawn out wide his last three starts," Abela said.