Scene Set For Enthralling Derby Decider

SOME of Victoria's hottest youngsters will be on show at Ballarat this Saturday night in the final of the Western Districts Derby (450m).

Setting the pace for the $20,000 to-the-winner finale is the Rocky Crisafi-trained Jebrynah, the son of Cosmic Rumble simply awesome landing his heat on Monday night in a flying 25.06.

Winner of his past four on the trot, including a flying 29.32 Sandown Park romp two runs back, Jebrynah has won 11 of his 15 starts and last month ran a cracking second to Dyna Hunter in the Group 2 Warragul Cup Final.

The other Derby qualifier on Monday night was taken out by Axel Footluce for trainer Jeff Britton, the son of Kinloch Brae stepping out following his Group 1 National Derby triumph at Wentworth Park on February 2.

Also a winner of his past four performances, Axel Footluce took advantage of some interference turning for home to power along the fence and score in 25.32, defeating Onion's O'reilly by just over half-a-length.

With just the two heats staged, some of the series other fancied runners still managed to progress through to the weekend's final, including recent Bendigo track record breaker Flynn, fourth in his heat behind Jebrynah after finding bother when slowly away.

Two heats of the Lil Dickie Oaks (450m) were also staged on Monday night, the first going the way of Time To Talk for Angela Galea in 25.15 while the second went to Melbourne Cup runner-up Black Opium for Seona Thompson in 25.32.

Derby Box Draw: 1. JEBRYNAH 2. FERNANDO'S RIOT 3. WHISKEY RIOT 4. DOUBLE BACK 5. ONION'S O'REILLY 6. CHARGING YAALA 7. FLYNN 8. AXEL FOOTLUCE

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Poor Response To Vic Bred Maiden Series

JUST 25 greyhounds have been nominated for the Group 3 VIC Bred Maiden Series (525m) which gets underway at The Meadows this Wednesday afternoon.

With a cool $25,000 waiting for the series' winning connections, the lackluster response will see just two semi-finals staged on Wednesday week, with the final to be run and won on Australian Cup night (March 2).

Only eligible to Victorian-bred greyhounds, last year's series brought together eight heats before four semi-finals were staged, where the eventual winner was Barcia Bale galloper Janali for Robert Britton.

Whilst there are some quality bred types set to go about their business for the first time on Wednesday, the modest response is in stark contrast to last Saturday night's Vince Curry Memorial Maiden heats (520m) at Ipswich, where more than 80 maidens were nominated for the time-honored feature.

Granted that series carries an additional $15,000 in first prizemoney and isn't confined to greyhounds bred in any one particular state, but nevertheless the lukewarm response to Wednesday's heats will be of some cause for concern for GRV hierarchy.

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MY Reflection was the standout performer of Sunday's Sandown Park program, the daughter of Dyna Double One and Tatty Fields stopping the clock in a flying 29.36 for the 515 metres.

A younger half-sister to Group 1 Topgun hero Poke The Bear and two-time Group 1 winner Out Of Range, My Reflection couldn't have been more impressive for trainer Seona Thompson, claiming her third win from just the eight starts.

While the deeds of Tatty Fields's first litter to Fernando Bale appears almost impossible to replicate, her Dyna Double One litter has started off in a blaze of glory, winning 15 of their 37 starts, and running some slick times at that.

The litter includes Street Outlaw, winner at five of his six appearances, and Loading Zone, who has been off the scene since October but is already a winner at Sandown and The Meadows in smart fashion.

Another impressive winner at Sandown on Sunday was the Gerry O'Keefe-trained Up And About, taking out the first in a tidy 29.80 as a short priced favourite.

By Banjo Boy out of Group 1 Sandown Cup winner Bells Are Ringin', Up And About claimed his maiden win at start six after having a horror run with box draws to begin his career.