By JASON ADAMS
XYLIA Allen underlined her status as one of the best greyhounds in Australia last Thursday night at Sandown, winning by over five lengths in a scintillating time of 33.94sec.
The triple Group 1 winner was slow to begin though, but found a clear passage on the rail, finding the lead first time past the post. Handler Joe Briffa was pleased with the run, and believes there is still some improvement left in her.
‘’I actually expected her to go quicker, though I think the track was a bit slow tonight,’’ said Briffa.
‘’She pulled up really well, she was nearly dragging me back to the kennels after the race.’’
Her win elevated her prize money total to an astonishing $470,780, and at not even three-years-of-age it raises the question of whether she is capable of breaking the million dollar barrier with so much racing still ahead of her.
Xylia Allen is a specialist around Sandown Park, having won six of 13 starts including the Group 1 Macro Meats Sapphire Crown and Group 3 Macro Meats Shootout.
Her win last Thursday night was her first step up in distance since last year’s Super Stayers in March. Her next stop – the invitation only Group 1 Rookie Rebel at The Meadows in two week’s time – is a race that will be sure to test her ability against Australia’s best middle-distance greyhounds all competing for the $75,000 up for grabs.
‘’She will definitely be heading to the Rookie Rebel, though we will give her another start at Sandown to get her to peak fitness’’
If she is successful over the 600m journey, another step up in distance could be on the agenda, and with the RSN Sandown Cup just four months away the possibilities are endless.
Xylia Allen was recently announced Sandown’s Greyhound of the Year and her sensational 2013 also earned her a spot as one of the three finalists for the Victorian Greyhound of The Year, with the winner set to be announced this Friday night.
