UNDERRATED greyhound Thirteen Black powered his way into next week’s Gold Collar final with a resounding win in his heat at The TOTE Racing Centre in Launceston.
Thirteen Black began well from box four to settle second at the first turn and within striking distance of the favourite Posh Gem with Decembrist and Kialdu Grace also in touch with the leader.
But when the favourite drifted up the track heading down the back stretch Thirteen Black seized the opportunity and dived through along the rails to take the lead and went on to score by over six lengths from Posh Gem with Decembrist running on well for third a length away.
The Leigh Wood-trained dog took a while to find his best form but this was his third win from his past four starts and given he ran the 515-metre trip in a slick 29.85 he looms as the one to beat in next Monday night’s final.
Posh Di gave favourite backers a scare at the start of his Gold Collar heat when he was slow to begin from box one but he was able to muster enough speed to retain the lead at the first turn.
Once on the lure the Anthony Bullock-trained bitch burst clear and hit the line with 3-1/2 lengths to spare over Hellyeah Geoff with recent Devonport Breeder’s Classic winner Winklee Wonder an eye-catching third but over two lengths astern.
The first four placegetters in each of the two heats progressed to the final to be run over 515 metres in Launceston next Monday night (November 30).
The finalists:
Posh Di, Hellyeah Geoff, Winklee Wonder, Kialdu Anna, Thirteen Black, Posh Gem, Decembrist and Winklee Keeper.