Silver Lake Sets Record Pace In Derby

BREATHTAKING!

That's the most apt way to describe Silver Lake's track record breaking run in a heat of the Western Districts Derby (450m) at Ballarat on Wednesday night.

Make no mistake, the son of Fernando Bale is a freak.

It's the reason a flood of six figure offers have been rolling in for the prodigious talent, the most recent understood to be in excess of $150,000.

Owner-breeder-trainer Lyn Gough has resisted any temptation to sell her budding superstar and after witnessing his track record romp on Wednesday night who could blame her?

Making it five wins from six starts, Silver Lake roared into next week's $20,000-to-the-winner Derby decider with a breathtaking 24.69 romp.

Ironically, the time shaved 1/100th of a second off Pirate Pete's previous mark, the son of Dyna Tron well supported when finishing third to Silver Lake in Wednesday's Derby contest.

Lyn Gough told the Greyhound Recorder earlier this week that her hugely exciting chaser will move to trainer Graham James following the Derby series.

And while one would assume Silver Lake would have a vice-like grip on next week's age restricted finale on the back of his record breaking run, strangely, that's not the case.

Why?

Because it's arguably as strong a field of up-and-coming male sprinters as you could possibly assemble.

The opening heat went the way of 16-time victor Aussie Secret for Jason Thompson in 24.87, defeating fellow finalist Masked Avenger, winner at six of his eight career starts, by 4 ¼ lengths.

Qualifier two produced a thrilling finish with Aston Rupee outlasting Music Event by half-a-length in 24.98.

Trainer Glenn Rounds has a huge opinion of Aston Rupee, while Music Event, winner at 12 of his 25 starts, including a sublime 29.25 run at Sandown Park, oozes class and is well drawn in two for the final.

Landing the final heat was Mr. America in 24.82, handing Jason Thompson two of the four heats on Wednesday night.

Such was the strength of the win, Mr. America, now a winner at eight of his 10 starts, comprehensively defeated fellow finalist Ferdinand Boy which went into the race off a slashing 24.81 victory in the Warrnambool Derby.

Rounding out the finalists is recent Group 2 Birthday Cup winner Blackpool Flash which finished runner-up to Silver Lake in track record time.

Next Wednesday's star-studded final promises to be an absolute thriller.

And the star of the show is Silver Lake which looks on the cusp of a huge career for connections.


Box draw: Listed Western Districts Derby (450m)

1. Masked Avenger
2. Music Event
3. Silver Lake
4. Aston Rupee
5. Mr. America
6. Ferdinand Boy
7. Aussie Secret
8. Blackpool Flash
9. Gold Driller
10. La La Missouri