Eye-catching Victorian stayer Rippin’ Sam is being set for the Silver Collar at Manakau in New Zealand.

The Silver Collar, won by Victorian-bred stayer Ring The Bell in the past two years, is conducted over 779 metres and will be held in June.

The longest race in Victoria is 725m at The Meadows, where Rippin’ Sam last raced. That was in a heat of the Fanta Bale Super Stayers in February when running seventh behind his champion litter brother Tornado Tears. Rippin’ Sam was stood down for 10 days by the on-course vet after the run with a wrist injury.

“I think that (extra) distance will suit Rippin’ Sam down to the ground,” Simone said.

Rippin’ Sam, who turned three in February, won the Group 1 Galaxy in Perth (715m) almost 12 months ago.

Simone applauded the appointment of Todd McKenney as the face of greyhound racing’s upcoming National Adoption Day.

“On April 29 we will see a National Adoption Day across six Australian states, the first of which was held last year which saw 212 dogs adopted, and no doubt the number will grow this year,” she said.

“Todd McKenney is once again the ambassador for this wonderful event, and he is the perfect advocate, having his own pet greyhounds and he really does speak from the heart,” Simone said.

The Victorian leg of the National Adoption Day will be held at The Meadows.