Family affair as Elsons qualify three for Mick Byrne Memorial final
A mother and son training duo served up a clinic in the heats of the Listed Mick Byrne Memorial at Albion Park on Wednesday night.
With the $24,000 final to be run over 520m on July 7, Cyndie and Travis Elson stamped their ticket three times with winners saluting in the heats.
Cyndie’s Cyndie, who started at $8 with greyhound betting sites, stormed home in the first heat over the top of the leading pair of Super Stacey and Cosmic Space to win.
The Dyna Double One x Cyndie’s Magic bitch, trained by mother Cyndie Elson, made it a second win from five starts, all at the Albion Park track.
In her heat the Kelly Hoggan trained Magical Gunn began as favourite, paying $2.50, but did not figure throughout the race missing out on placings.
Cyndie Elson would not have to wait long for the double with Who’s Billy, the race favourite at $3.20, winning over Kenzie Baskin and Atomic Ripple.
Once he hit the lead, he made the run look easy crossing the line first 3.5 lengths ahead of the field in a time of 30.24.
In the third heat of the Mick Byrne Memorial, it was son Travis’ turn to see one of his win. Comical Bill, which shortened in the markets from $2.85 to $1.60 before box rise, was dominant in winning over Logan Echo and Master Distiller.
A clean start to sit second at box rise helped as he swung the final turn to hit the lead and claim the win by two lengths.
The son of Fernando Bale made it three wins from four starts, two months after his debut at Albion Park, winning by a thumping 15.5 length margin.
The final heat was won by a member of another top greyhound training family in Selena Zammit, preparing winner Icy Eyes.
She sat behind the lead dog in Logan Alpha for most of the trip before passing him as he tired, extending out nicely to take victory by 5.25 lengths, and in the best time of the night of 29.87.
The Flying Fired Up x Agame bitch started at $4.50 with bookmakers and the win marked her maiden victory after two previous starts at the shorter 395m.