Ebby Ripper and Bekin Street are off to Brisbane for the finals of the Group 1 National Distance and Sprint Championships After scoring emphatic wins in Saturday night's NSW finals at Wentworth Park.
The two greyhounds look to be worthy representatives and a great chance of ending a minor NSW drought in the title run-offs, with Smart Valentino (Distance) in 2013 and Chica Destacada (Sprint) in 2014 the most recent winners from this state.
Ebby Ripper (pictured) stunned fans by jumping in front and leading throughout to win the 720m race by just on five lengths in a slick 42.32, marking the first time she had been the pacemaker in 46 starts.
Following the race her trainer Michael Eberand credited a different preparation for Ebby Ripper as reason for the change in running style.
“After last week's heats I decided not to bother trying to get her to jump faster or to do any work with her in the lead-up to tonight's race,” Eberand said.
“I just left her alone, let her do her own thing and allowed her to just potter around at my place at Oakville. Previously I had tried everything to get her to come out of the boxes and to show early speed and nothing ever worked.”
Eberand's “Whatever will be” technique possibly worked, because once Ebby Ripper sprang to the lead at box rise the final was as good as over.
Meanwhile, in the NSW Sprint final, Bekin Street got the better of a bumping duel with Mister Twister at the first turn to take out the feature just over a length in a nippy 30.08.
The youngest greyhound in the field, Bekin Street did not begin fast but made full use of his box one draw, driving hard along the rails going into the first corner.
After taking the lead at the top of the straight from Royal Turbo, the Christine Proctor-trained greyhound comfortably held off Mister Twister, to record the win and book his ticket to Brisbane.
Proctor said Bekin Street will more than hold his own in the Group 1 National Sprint Championship.
“It is extremely difficult to beat top Queensland trainers like Tony Brett at Albion Park, but Bekin Street is very talented and is a tenacious chaser,” Proctor said.
“Tonight was the first time Bekin Street had drawn the rails box and he used it to his advantage.”
The Group 1 National Distance and Sprint Championships take place at Albion Park on Friday, August 25.
