A powerful finish carried Southland’s star greyhound Southern Lights to victory in last Thursday’s $7,500 Kolorful Kanvas Robinson Rosebowl, for his Invercargill owner/trainer Roy Hamilton.

Pictured: Sothern Light’s winning his Robinson Rosebowl (pic Dave Robbie)

Southern Lights, who is the current Southland Greyhound of the Year, brought super consistent form into this time honoured 520m feature. He wasn’t the quickest into stride and was positioned worse than midfield when rounding the first turn.

Meanwhile it was warm Calum Weir prepared favourite Zipping Jordan who had secured her usual race lead. She led the field down the back straight, pursued by Mina Allen from the Craig Roberts kennels.

Southern Lights improved when racing down the back straight and he loomed strongly into contention when rounding the final bend. Commencing the run home saw this son of Lochinvar Marlow and Imperative extending stylishly which saw him easily running down the pace-setters to claim his feature race win in 30.44s.

Once again the New Zealand Cup runner up Zipping Jordan had to settle for a feature race minor placing when she gamely stuck to her task for her 1.5 length second. Mina Allen also pressed on stoutly over the concluding stages, finishing just a head further behind, with another half-length back to the fourth placed runner Boston Billy for Tony Hart and Kristy Taylor.

Southern Lights has now banked $59,895 for Hamilton – the result of twenty wins and the same number of minor placings from his 62 race day outings. It is a tally that he can easily expand on judging by his current solid form.

The post race Kolorful Kanvas Robinson Rosebowl podium, with the birdcage being crowded by representatives from the sponsoring Kolorful Kanvas company - pics supplied by Dave Robbie - drobbie@ihug.co.nz – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos

By Peter Fenemor