Triple track record holder Unleash Collinda posted yet another impressive winning career performance at the Shepparton Pink Diamond heats greyhound race program on Thursday.
Trained by Jason Thompson, he took out his heat of the Pink Diamond Champion Sprinter over 450m as the shortest odds-on greyhound betting favourite on the card, paying just -500 with greyhound bookmakers.
The Pink Diamond Champion Sprinter heats are open to the best Victorian-bred greyhounds nominated, with first and second from heats at Shepparton, Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong greyhound tracks, to qualify for the the $75,000 to the winner final on Pink Diamond finals day, on June 16 at Warragul over 460m.
In only his third start at Shepparton over the 450m trip, the son of Beast Unleashed and Audacious Bell got out of the boxes quickly to dictate terms, hitting the lead, and winning comfortably, despite a last-minute challenge from runner-up Fire Hose.
Fire Hose, who was the +470 second favourite with greyhound betting sites, and the only other contender under double figure greyhound odds; produced a late dive at the leader on the finish line, with Unleash Collinda only saluting in the end by 0.5 length in 25.09.
Pink Diamond Champion Sprinter Heat (Shepparton, 450m) – Unleash Collinda (25.09) T: Jason Thompson
Unleashed Collinda’s handler Luke Thompson said the team was impressed with the performance and excited for the 2023 Pink Diamond Champion Sprinter final at Warragul.
“Very happy with the run,” he said.
“He probably missed it half a length but showed his customary acceleration to find the front and remain there to the winning post.
“He was realistically a run under done for 450m but had enough in the tank to win.
“He’ll be better for the run going into the final.”
The performance marked the 26th victory for Unleash Collinda from 41 career starts after runner-up in the finals of the 2023 Group 2 Shepparton Cup (450m) behind Lektra Heckler, and the 2023 Group 2 Ballarat Cup (450m) behind Kelsey Bale.
Unleash Collinda is armed with a turn of speed that is ‘off the charts’, and across his career, he has taken three track records.
Last month, he set new figures over the 400-metre trip at Geelong, running 21.995, cracking the 22.01 track record that was set by Aston Bolero in 2016.
With two records held at Healesville over 300m (16.06) and 350m (18.64), handler Thompson said the classy chaser was not far away from a return to that track.
“He isn’t all that far away from Healesville, having a few feature finals there coming up including The Cup, The Arrow, and the National Straight Track Championship.”
The red brindle dog is a litter brother to 2022 Group 3 Warragul St Leger winner, and Traralgon 450m track record holder Mr Audacious.
Unleash Collinda has had 41 starts for 26 wins and nine placings, earning $155,470 in prizemoney for breeder and owner Stephanie Tyler.
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