TRAINER Butch Deverell is hoping to have at least three of his team competing for a berth in the National Distance Championship to be hosted by the Hobart Greyhound Racing Club in August.
At Tattersall’s Park inHobartlast Thursday night two of his distance championship hopefuls quinellaed a race over 599 metres
Miss Hetti (Head Bound-It’s A She) defeated her litter brother Beautide with the winner clocking a handy 34.48s over the 599-metre trip.
It was a powerful win by the quality young stayer that has amassed seven wins and eight minor placings from her 25 starts.
She has already proven herself more than capable over the longest trip of 709 metres on theHobartcircuit with a track record effort a week earlier in a time of 41.98s.
While Miss Hetti impressed with her win at her most recent outing, it was the run of Beaudine that really caught the eye.
Beaudine began well from box two but when he was about to surge forward passing the 457-metre boxes he was checked and again a bit further down the back stretch.
But he recovered and after weaving his way through the pack he chased hard in the home straight to go down by less than a length.
“”I couldn’t be happier with the result tonight,” Deverell said.
“Both of these dogs are hopefully heading to the winter distance series and if they measure up, as I think they will, then we will progress to the state National Distance series,” he said.
“Miss Hetti has probably just come out of her skin because she was a bit tardy early on and a bit field shy but now that she’s going over the longer distances she’s much better.”
“The run of Beaudine was sensational because he was a half-length off them going around the first turn but he’s copped checks that spat him out the back and to then run her to under a length is a tip effort.”
“But he (Beaudine) will go for a spell now and come back for the Winter Distance series,” Deverell said.
However, Miss Hetti will continue to race.
“We will keep Miss Hetti racing until she comes on season and I’m likely to bring her back toHobartnext week for the Vets Medley Series,” he said.
While Deverell is thrilled with the efforts of Beaudine and Miss Hetti, he believes another litter sibling Jethro has the ability to be a superstar.
“There is no doubt Jethro is the quickest dog I’ve ever trained,” he said.
Deverell said the same about Big Moose that took Tasmanian greyhound racing by storm three seasons back but the trainer is adamant Jethro is a speedier conveyance.
“Big Moose was a great dog, no doubt about it but Jethro is doing at two what Big Moose was doing as an older dog.”
“”Jethro is all class. He’s got the acceleration like I’ve not seen before and he’s got the ability to change gears and still win a race.”
“If he could come out of the boxes clean then I don’t think there is a dog inTasmaniathat could beat him,” he said.
Jethro has started 26 times for 13 wins and 10 minor placings and over $30,000 in stakes.
Jethro and Beaudine will be spelled for about four weeks and both are likely to be aimed at the Tasmanian Derby as their next main mission.