Connor declares Trip To Eden as the best dog he’s bred

Trip To Eden
Trip To Eden pictured winning the Super Stayers earlier this year. PIC Paul Munt

CENTRAL Coast enthusiast Stephen Connor has no reservations declaring Trip To Eden the best dog he has owned after the three-year-old greyhound won the Group 1 Association Cup (720m) at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.

Stepping from box three, the -trained greyhound exploded from the traps, leading all the way over South Australian rival (box two) to score by two and a half lengths in a fast 42.02.

It was an uncharacteristic display from the son of Solve The Puzzle and Key To Eden which normally stalks the pace before unleashing a powerful finishing burst, with Connor conceding he was surprised to see his charge leading in the early stages.

“I was expecting him to be out the back early and I was just hoping he wouldn't be too far out the back – so when he came out in front I was shocked,” Connor told Australian Racing Greyhound.

“It made me a little bit worried as well because he can reel off some really quick sections and sometimes when they jump in front they can burn themselves out a bit.

“Thankfully he finished it off strongly.”

Trip To Eden has now won 18 of his 42 starts with 13 minor placings, including eight of his last 12 race track appearances.

Amongst his victories was another triumph in the Super Stayers at earlier this year, with his prize money earnings now in excess of $290,000.

However, Connor says his black chaser has always flown under the .

“He is an incredibly underrated dog – he has got to be up there with the best stayers in the country and he has proven that now on multiple occasions.

“I don't know why he is so underrated – one of the leading tipsters didn't even have him in his first four for the Association Cup.

“His record speaks for itself – he has made the last four group 1 staying finals in the country – not too many dogs can do that and he has won two of them and run second in the other two.”

Connor said the 30 kilogram racer has always shown plenty of ability.

“He always looked as if he was always going to run at least 600m so he went up to last July for the middle distance race throughout their winter carnival.

“He was only a baby, but he won his heat and got beat by [Nangar Thunder] in the final – after that run he got sent straight to Jason, but I think the run flattened him and took the edge off him a bit.

“It took them a while to get him right, he had to start out back over 500m and get worked up in distance again – but once he was right we were always confident that he was going to be a nice dog.”

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Trip To Eden's success on the track is especially rewarding for Connor who bred and owned his group winning dam, Key To Eden, which is by his brilliant multiple group winning racer-turned-sire .

Connor said he has been refining his line for more than a decade in an attempt to get a greyhound as good as Trip To Eden.

“Nowadays with what's gone on you have got to breed dogs that have got strength and chase and he has got both of them in spades,” he said.

“It's taken me a while to breed the type of dog that I wanted, but he is the real deal this bloke.

“He is the best dog I have had – we've had some good fun with our dogs over the years, but this bloke is pretty much bulletproof.

“Even if he misses the kick he is still a chance of winning – he can lead and come from behind and he smashed the at a few starts back.

“He has just got it all.”

Connor is looking forward to using Trip To Eden as a sire when his career comes to a close, but having just turned three years of age he is hoping there is still plenty of fun to be had on the race track.

“He turned three last week so he should still have eight to 12 months racing if we do the right thing by him.

“He will have a short let-up now and then he will go after the next month – after that race he will probably have a decent six week break.

“He has been up racing for a long time so hopefully the rest will do him some good and he can come back better than ever and continue to race sound until the end of the year.”

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