In Brief
- Tassie star Wynburn Sheean ready to tackle the Group 2 Shepparton Cup heats.
- Connections have faith that their champion dog can step to the elite level.
- Group 2 $47,000 feature final is to be staged at Shepparton this Saturday night.
Trainer Ben Englund is hopeful his decision to target the 2021 Shepparton Cup pays off as star sprinter Wynburn Sheean goes into the Group 2 heats on Monday night in sizzling form including an unofficial track record trial.
Highlighted by victories in the Group 3 Ladbrokes Devonport Chase and Group 2 Ladbrokes Launceston Cup, the son of Aston Dee Bee and She’s All Class has powered to new heights as Tasmania’s most prolific sprinter produced in recent years.
The winner of 18 races from 22 starts, the Wynburn Racing Syndicate owned chaser headed across Bass Strait to Shepparton for a recent exhibition trial which resulted in a red-hot 24.76s effort.
“I didn’t expect him to run that time,” trainer Ben Englund said.
“The best greyhounds in Australia break track records in Victoria, I was expecting him to run at least 25.10s which is solid, but the time he ran really surprised us.”
The Englund family are no strangers to the standard of quality needed to compete in the top ranks of Victoria having raced with Wynburn Wizard (G2 Launching Pad) and Wynburn Cutie (G1 Sapphire Crown finalist) successfully.
Connections are remaining confident that Wynburn Sheean has the ability needed to measure up with the best.
“I think it he can do it,” Englund said.
“He has that huge will to win and has done everything we’ve asked of him.”
Wynburn Sheean will jump from box 3 as the $2.10 favourite in heat three of the cup which jumps at 20:26 local time.
Catch The Thief (box 7) is second favourite at $2.45 with Gotham Duke (box 1) next best in the betting at $4.20.
Five heat winners including the three fastest second placegetters will progress through to the final this Saturday.
Watch Wynburn Sheean winning the Reg & Aileen Ivory Memorial Classic recently.