Peter O’Neill

QUEENSLAND stars Dashing Corsair and High Earner have both qualified for this week’s final of the Group 2 Brittons WA Derby at Cannington.

The $52,500 final has drawn together some outstanding chasers from all around Australia even though it clashed with the Group 1 Maturity for similar aged greyhounds run at the Meadows in Melbourne last Saturday night.

Dashing Corsair (Malfoy-Rose Flamenco) led from box three for Queensland trainer Dwyer Lennon.

Although race favourite High Earner, for former WA trainer Christine Robartson, sat on his heals heading to the home corner, the red/fawn dog drew away in the run to the line to win by seven lengths in 30.22.

The fact that the dog had seen the track in the Sky Channel Perth Cup earlier this year when he finished down the track was a big advantage in the heat.

Both dogs should be better in this week’s final.

South Australian trainer Troy Murray qualified Savage Shaker (Bond-Miss Spicy) through to the final with a brilliant victory from box five in 30.47.

The young South Australian chaser had started at Cannington in December when he finished second in his first race.

Since then he has won 10 times and been placed eight more times for 19 starts in his home state.

WA star and Mandurah Derby winner Benno (Hallucinate-Maudie’s Me Gran) led throughout to win heat three for trainer Jimmy Lee in 30.53, defeating Heart Of Buderus by 1 ¼ lengths.

Benno is searching to become the first dog since Prince Of Tigers in 1997 to win the Mandurah and WA Derbies.

The final heat was won by Octane Show (Pure Octane-Black Chantilly) who led from box seven clocking 5.66 first sectional, more than a length quicker than all the other heats.

The red/fawn dog then clocked 30.42 to win by five lengths from former NSW chaser Sydney Vella who is now in the care of Lee.

Octane Show has only raced 11 times for seven wins and has a personal best of 30.17 from box seven in march.

Considering the dog is only 22 months old he has a lot to look forward to.

Box Draw: Congratulations, Savage Shaker, Benno, High Earner, Heart Of Buderus, Octane Show, Sydney Vella, Dashing Corsair.