Staying champion to race in Melbourne

Press, 13 May 1981, Page 29

Staying champion to race in Melbourne

By

808 SCHUMACHER

Canterbury’s champion distance greyhound, Kilty Hobbs, is bound for Mel-

bourne today. The powerfulchested son of Old Hobbs and Riverside Sal will do his winter and early spring racing from the kennels of Dr John Murray, a leading Melbourne veterinarian and greyhound trainer. Owned by two Ashburton men, Messrs Arch Bradford and . Giles Burdon, and trained by Mr Bradford, Kilty Hobbs won the two feature staying races at Queen Elizabeth II Park last season.

In winning the Merv Gib-

son Trophy last November, Kilty Hobbs set a new track record over 805 m of 50.49 s and he lowered that record to 50.02 s when he eclipsed his opposition in the Canterbury Trophy race on May 1. At 30 months. Kilty Hobbs, a white and fawn dog, is at his peak and his owners have decided to pit him against the best Mel-[ bourne stayers during the: winter months when the temperatures are not much higher than Christchurch. If he fares successfully on metropolitan tracks, Kilty Hobbs will attempt the Australian distance championship. Often Blow to Leave

the traps, Kilty Hobbs takes time to warm to his work but when stretching out properly is equal to any dog in the country. Staying races are few and far between in New Zealand, but there should be plenty of opportunities for Kilty Hobbs in Melbourne to race; over the longer distances. j Dr Murray intends to keep; Kilty Hobbs off the track for a month while he assesses him, then the dog will have three to four months of racing before returning to his owners to be prepared for the New Zealand . championship in November,-