Weslyn On Track For WA Trip

Classy stayer Dyna Weslyn firmly cemented herself as New Zealand's leading prospect to contest the Australian National Distance Championship in Perth.

New Zealand will be contesting the National sprint and distance races for the first time next month. Dyna Weslyn has just completed back-to-back Group 1 staying victories with her win in last Friday's Christchurch Casino NZ Stayers Cup over 732m being delivered in absolute emphatic fashion.

It was game set and match for Dyna Weslyn from trap rise as she scampered clear from the five trap to seize the early race lead. It was a race lead that she was never going to relinquish as seen by her quick 17.18s 295m split time. Her freewheeling, pace making tactics saw her greeting the judge after 43.13s of hard out chasing action by a 5.75 length margin.

It was a closely contested battle between New Zealand bred stayers for the minor placings with Opawa Hilary clinging onto second for her trainer Robin Wales by a nose over the Ray Adcock prepared Prefect Result.

Alotta Talk claimed fourth, the Dave and Jean Fahey prepared stayer overcoming some traffic issues to press on a further half length behind for his owning Punters HQ team.

The Victorian owned, Calum Weir prepared, Vandagambo suffered from a traffic impeded racing passage.

"I was rapt to see Weslyn's body in front from the jump. When she went clear going into the first turn I thought you beauty – from there I knew she would put a gap on the others and I knew she had the race won with a lap to run. 

"Weslyn is the complete racing package and I can say that she's the best greyhound I have ever trained. She can run a phenomenal 520m time, then of course she's super over the 700m plus trips. She travels brilliantly, you never hear from her – she's the complete greyhound," stated Roberts about the winner of 23 races. 

She has placed on another seven occasions and her 39 race day outings has seen her stakes earning tally now standing at a tidy $150,272 for her Sydney based owner Brendan Wheeler. 

There's a possibly that Craig Roberts could provide both of the Kiwi reps for the Nationals as his sprinter Dyna Dave continues to deliver competitive Addington 520m races at the top level. 

That's despite Dyna Dave going under in Friday's running of the Barron's South Island Championships at Addington on Friday at Group 2 level. He finished solidly from the rear group for his half length second to the trap one specialist Nature's Gent.

Nature's Gent is a demon chaser when he's sighted wearing the red racing vest and it was the red that he carried to victory in this event for his northern based conditioner Angela Turnwald.

He held the rail during the initial rush for positions at trap rise. He railed underneath the bulk his rivals rounding the first turn, then he set off after the pace setting Sailor Allen who is also Roberts prepared.

Nature's Gent railed claimed the pacemaker on the home turn and then set sail for the judge who was to confirm a half length victory in 30.14s for him.

Charging home late was Dyna Dave who racked up yet another Group race minor placing when winding up in the runner up possie. Dyna Varsity also for Roberts pressed on stoutly during the run home to secure third a further two lengths behind, while shading his gallant kennel mate Sailor Allen.

"When you have the opportunity of receiving a decent draw at that level you have to use it. Nature's Gent came out good and he nicely got the job done. Going into the home turn I felt he had the opposition covered," commented the trainers' partner Paul Freeman

"Nature's Gent has been a terrific greyhound for us and his owners," advised Freeman about the The Bookie & Us owned greyhound.  They have now benefited to the tune of $221,212 from the racing exploits of Nature's Gent. That tally is a result of the 24 wins and 31 minor placings he has achieved from the 78 race day outings by this four and a half year old cash machine on paws.

Oh yes, those trap one stats held by Nature's Gent now stands at seven wins, six minor placings from his 13 races from the ace.

Pawnote: The New Zealand National finals will be contested at Addington Raceway on Thursday August 8 over the 520m and 732m race distances. Both races will carry a $50,000 stake.