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  • Sunday, 12 Mar, 2023,
  • by Andrew Copley

Undisputed straight track king the rarest of Emeralds

Unleash Collinda further cemented his status as the king of Healesville with victory in the inaugural $50,000 Sportsbet Emerald Final (300m) on Sunday afternoon.

The track record holder over Healesville’s two distances, Unleash Collinda (Beast Unleashed – Audious Bell) was sent out the $1.70 favourite, and he didn’t let punters down, outlasting fastest heat winner Not For Profit after the pair had kicked away from the field.

The Jason Thompson-trained speedster made it five from five over the trip, 12 from 13 at the track and 21 from 31 across his entire career.

The Emerald consisted of eight x 4-dog heats which were run on Tuesday, with the eight fastest greyhounds making it through to Sunday’s $30,000 to-the-winner final, regardless of finishing position.

A huge crowd turned out for the occasion, with bus transfers organised as the Healesville Greyhound Association linked up with the Emerald Hotel in South Melbourne to create a ‘Sportsbet Bet with Mates Zone’.

Unleash Collinda clocked a time of 16.25sec, a few lengths shy of his 16.05sec track record, however he defeated a hot line-up and was easily the fastest 300m performer of the day.

WATCH: Unleash Collinda (7) takes out The Sportsbet Emerald.

Andrew CopleyAndrew Copley

Andrew Copley

Communications Manager at Greyhound Racing Victoria with 25 years’ experience as a reporter with National Greyhound Form newspaper and GRV. Former Watchdog form analyst. Adopter of celebrity greyhound, Fred Basset. Victorian Greyhound of the Year and Victorian greyhound racing Hall of Fame panel member.

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