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  • Friday, 22 Jan, 2021,
  • by Gerard Guthrie

Suspense surrounds Healesville final

After a shock defeat at $1.40 last weekend, trainer Steve White expects straight-track specialist Suspense to bounce back in Sunday’s Kings v Queens Final (350m) at Healesville.

Former South Australian Suspense, a half-brother to White’s 2019 Launching Pad winner Tauwitchere, is restricted to racing up the straight after suffering a serious injury as a puppy but has nevertheless been able to win 10 of his 18 starts.

“He broke his tibial crest when he was three months old and they more or less said he wouldn’t make it to the track,” White explained.

“But Kirin (Corby, owner/breeder) put a lot of work into him and he actually broke the Murray Bridge 300m record at his first start.

“He had eight starts in South Australia but then I was talking to Kirin and she said she couldn’t get a run with him. So I suggested she send him over here and he can race at Healesville each week.

“He wants to run and he’s a very happy dog at the moment because he’s racing every week. He just goes up the straight each week so he’s very easy to train too!

“He’s got better since coming to Victoria because he’s been racing consistently. He’s hard fit now. He’s a very fast dog and who knows what he could have been without the broken leg.”

Suspense was chasing his fifth straight victory in last Sunday’s Kings Of Healesville Final when second to Superior Wallis in a best of day 19.12s, having beaten the same greyhound in the previous week’s Kings heat in a scorching 18.86s.

White believes Suspense is drawn to return to the winners list after being allocated box six for the $5250 to-the-winner showdown, which features the first four home from both the Kings Final and the Queens Final.

“With straight-track racing the first 20 to 30 metres is what matters and he copped a bit of a whack last week from He’s An Ace,” White said.

“All I was worried about this week was where He’s An Ace was drawn because he’s a crasher but he’s drawn four and we’re in six and Suspense likes being drawn out wide too.

“I don’t know whether he’ll be odds-on again but I think he’ll be hard to beat.”

Suspense is the latest chapter in White’s successful association with Kirin Corby, following in the footsteps of three-time Group 1 winner Sennachie and Group 1 finalists Tauwitchere and Gwydion among others and there’s more on the way.

“Kirin has a dog called Harbor Blues that has won three from five in South Australia and he’ll be coming over soon,” White said.

“He’s by Worm Burner and Harbor Blues’ mother Harbor Missing has also had a litter to Sennachie that’s about eight months old.

Eight month old Sennachie x Harbor Missing pups bred by Kirin Corby.

“Sennachie has served 75 bitches since March. He’s producing big litters and breeders keep telling me how well-conformed his pups are.

“David Jones is also sending me Paua Of Janie, which has won five from five at Wagga, for the Launching Pad, as well as her litter brother Paua Of Buddy, which hasn’t raced yet. Their mother is Paua To Admit, which also produced Paua Of Oscar (Warragul track record holder and Healesville Cup placegetter).”

Gerard GuthrieGerard Guthrie

Gerard Guthrie

One of Australia’s leading greyhound racing journalists since 2000 with the Greyhound Recorder and now with Greyhound Racing Victoria. Part-owner 2013 Group 1 Paws Of Thunder winner Sheikha. (The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of GRV)

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