Bessy Boo Primed For Record Books

Bessy Boo will embark on a quest to qualify for a record breaking third successive National Sprint Championship berth when he steps out in the NSW heats at Wentworth Park on August 6.

The champ (pictured) finished fourth to fellow NSW representative Chica Destacada in the 2014 final at Perth's Cannington circuit and after winning the NSW final, finished second to the indomitable Fernando Bale in the 2015 decider at Wentworth Park.

It is believed that no greyhound has ever reached National Championship grand finals in three consecutive years.

Alan Proctor, whose wife Christine trains Bessy Boo, said: "We can't expect him to go forever so this could be his final campaign.''

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Vineyard trainer Dean Swain raised eyebrows when he nominated untried stayers Whispering Soul and Runway Bono for the National Distance Championship heats over 720m at WP on August 6.

But Swain, who produced the exciting Miss Foxy Lee for a 12 lengths win in a smart 42.63 debut 720m win at WP last Wednesday, is confident his rookies will perform well.

"Runway Bono has won in 35.49 and 35.89 over 618m at Richmond while Whispering Soul won there in May in 35.77 and defeated the smart Funky Punk over 618m at Richmond on Friday,'' Swain said.

"I have given Runway Bono and Whispering Soul a couple of 717m trials at Richmond and they went well so I know they can run the distance.

"At their most recent Richmond 717m hit-out Whispering Soul caught Runway Bono right on the line in 42.30, which was a good time on a slow track.

"While Miss Foxy Lee and Runway Bono are likely to be front running stayers, I believe Whispering Soul is more of a born long-distance greyhound.''

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Riverina dog Reefton Treasure will be nominated for Wentworth Park on Saturday night in order to give him a "refresher course'' at the venue of the August 6 National Sprint Championship heats.

Trainer Margaret Bannerman was over the moon at Reefton Treasure's sizzling 26.06 win over 472m at Bulli on Saturday night, when he ran down Mark Wilcox's flying Sweetwater Boy.

"Reefton Treasure had never seen Bulli before and when Mark's dog led I would have been happy to see my greyhound finish second,'' Bannerman said.

"When he got up to win it exceeded my expectations but now I want to give him another look at Wenty before the Championship series gets under way.''

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While Cardiology won brilliantly over 720m at Wentworth Park on Saturday night in a fine dress rehearsal for the National Distance Championship series, her owner-trainer Kayla-Jane COLEMAN is unlucky not to have two strong representatives in Saturday week's Sydney heats.

Cardiology's equally talented litter sister Where Art Thou was being prepared for the Championship after returning from a spell.

But mother nature stepped in and Where Art Thou came in season, so has had to be turned out.

"I think Where Art Thou is as good as Cardiology,'' COLEMAN's partner Shaun Evans said.