Greyhounds Our Little One needs inside draw in Aust.

Press, 14 March 1987, Page 30

Greyhounds Our Little One needs inside draw in Aust.

PA Wellington The top Auckland greyhound, Our Little One, badly needs an inside draw and a rails run to have a chance against top-class Australian opposition in the ArnottHarper National Distance Championships final in Melbourne later this month, according to the trainer, Delys van Meeuwen.

Our Little One gained the honour of being the first New Zealand greyhound to compete in the race when she won the $6OOO national final run over 753 m at Hutt Park on Wednesday.

In a gutsy display, Our Little One, the warm favourite, won by 222y 2 lengths over Rocky Sovereign and Our Asset. The race was the climax of four heats held throughout the country with the first two home in each qualifying for the final. The bitch will now take on the best greyhounds from each of the Australian states in the Olympic Park final on March 30. Van Meeuwen said once up against the top Austra-

lian dogs, Our Little One would need a good draw and a fast jump at the start with a rails run to have a chance of running a place. “To be honest, she needs an inside draw and to jump with the field and stay on the rails to have a hope of finishing in the first three,” she said. “She is just a little thing, but, she has a big heart and will try forever, but she will be up against class dogs from every state in Australia and I can’t really see her winning.” Van Meeuwen said Our Little One put everything she had into her races and had a beautiful temperament which should help her in Australia.

Owner Ben Craik said after the win the dog may have difficulties with the sand track, a surface she has never raced over before, but that is one problem Van Meuwen has under control. “I don’t think the conditions will affect her. We are arriving just a week before the race and will give her a trial three days before the race,” she said.