This is the greyhound race where the winner earns the right to momentarily wear the solid silver collar donated by Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh. Momentarily, because the value of the collar is such that it’s stored in the Auckland club’s bank vault for the other 364 days each year.
Pic: The prized Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar
Let the Royal Rumble begin. It’s the Plasterboard Duke of Edinburgh Silver Collar time once again.
The race winner, along with their proud connections fleetingly receives the opportunity to be photograph with the collar – a moment they cherish forever.
The road to glory for the 47th running of the annual royal battle commences at the Manukau Stadium this Sunday afternoon. Two heats of staying canine athletes will line up in the qualifying races – all vying for one of the eight much sought after final field positions for the following Sunday’s (June 11) $80,000 final.
The Silver Collar race is a stamina-sapping affair contested over the gruelling extreme 779m distance. In other words, it’s the equivalent of a human running back-to-back marathons on consecutive weekends.
The Silver Collar was donated to the Auckland club after the Duke of Edinburgh commissioned the royal engravers, Bravingtons in London to craft the solid silver collar after he was gifted a greyhound following the 1970 New Zealand royal visit.
That greyhound raced under the appropriate name of Royal Commission and went on to win the silver collar himself (1972). He also added a second and a third placing in the great race.
Commentator Peter Earley has seen every collar since the inaugural edition in 1971 and has been an intricate part of the collar ever since, after calling the race since 1973. He injects much excitement into the race through his calls every year.
“You lift yourself for the big ones – this is the biggest. The silver collar race is always exciting – you’re always waiting for things to happen at the finish. It always changes dramatically over the final few metres,” commented Earley. He’s quite right, as each year the silver collar has been contested it has resulted in a more than memorable race.
There is no question that of all the races on the national racing calendar, this is the one owners and trainers desire the most. The Silver Collar is the crowning jewel of New Zealand Greyhound Racing.
SUNDAY’S SILVER COLLAR HEATS
Here’s run down on the Duke of Edinburgh Silver Collar heat contenders with their respective TAB Futures market quotes – Win option 946 & Top Three option 1100
Plasterboard Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar – heat 1, race 8
1 Tron Bradman $51 & 10: He was a recent 755m Group 1 finalist. His tendency of getting back, then heading out wider says he’ll have to do a fair bit of work here.
2 Cawbourne Eski $31 & $6: He’s an absolute enigma of a chaser. He owns volumes of ability however he refuses to deliver on that potential. He must lead out to feature here.
3 Shandell $7.50 & $2: This chick has been there and done that in the great race having won it, then finishing second last year. She demands obvious respect.
4 Bradman Begins $10 & $2.50: He has been building nicely towards this event since crossing the Tasman via his solid Manawatu 660m efforts. Has strong qualifying claims.
5 Phantom Way $18 & $3.60: She has been targeted towards this race for a long time. Expect her to be sighted doing her best work at the business end here.
6 Pacific Sunrise $101 & $21: Her sole staying success came over 660m in Palmerston North. She was checked went contesting a prior 755m heat.
7 Cawbourne Kai $81 & $16: He’s a Maiden stayer who was sighted plugging on when claiming his two Manawatu 660m third placings.
8 Know Jinx $14 & $3: That was a potent finishing burst she put in to win over the Addington 645m trip two races ago. She is a Group 2 527m winner on this track.
Reserve
9 Electric Lotto $201 & $41: She couldn’t have picked on a tougher series to make her staying debut in if she’s required here.
Plasterboard Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar heat 1 contenders (from left): The 2015 Silver Collar winner Shandell; Phantom Way; Know Jinx
Plasterboard Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar – heat 2, race 9
1 Tranquil Blossom $1.80 & $1.20: She has really blossomed into a powerful stayer as seen when she easily won her Hatrick Group 1 755m title, backed up by her strong 660m wins.
2 Meteor Vege $81 & $16: A week ago you wouldn’t have contemplated her lining up in this series. Quickly changing that was her strong finishing Manawatu 660m win on Monday.
3 Electric Impulse $201 & $35: She’s a real tough act to follow. She owns a slippery best 527m time here, but she must be left alone in front to show her best.
4 Teemaria $21 & $4: She commands total respect here being the current Silver Collar title holder. Her recent 755m efforts says she’s building nicely into this 779m assignment.
5 Augello $16 & $3.20: This bloke is a stayer for the future. He tends to be slow early, then he can unleash a real potent finish. He adds intrigue here.
6 Cawbourne Buckle $81 & $16: Her 755m heat effort when finishing second to qualify her for a Group 1 final contained merit. She must replicate that effort here.
7 Ring The Bell $4.20 & $1.80: He is an absolute quality, proven Aussie stayer, who is their current National Distance (731m) title holder. Ignore him at your own peril.
8 Waimac $81 & $16: He’s a Maiden stayer who ran a close up second over 630m three races ago. His mum won the Silver Collar in 2011.
Reserve
9 Electric Lotto $201 & $41: She couldn’t have picked on a tougher series to make her staying debut in if she’s required here.
Plasterboard Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar heat 2 contenders (from left): Tranquil Blossom; Cawbourne Buckle; last year’s Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar winner Teemaria is returning to defend her title
By Peter Fenemor
