Supreme Shadow Set For Breeders' Classic Quest

BABY of the field Supreme Shadow will need to take another leap forward if he's to salute in Tuesday afternoon's Breeders' Classic Final (452m) at Devonport.

That's according to his trainer Patrick Ryan who admits to being somewhat surprised with the son of Sh Avatar's brilliant 25.58 semi-final victory last Tuesday.

"He went 26.03 to win his qualy so the time last week did surprise me a bit … he's heading in the right direction," said Ryan.

"He and his littermates are only 19 months of age so going into this series they were giving away quite a bit of age and experience to most of the others.

"When they went into the qualies they hadn't had any field experience so I put them in to see where they were at. Usually there's 2-3 dogs in each qualy but this time there were five; it was a good learning curve for them."

Supreme Shadow has drawn box three for Tuesday's $5,000 to-the-winner finale while the second of Ryan's runners, Kilcullen, has drawn box eight.

The race also carries a tidy breeders bonus.

"This is the first litter I've bred since we came over here from Queensland," Ryan told.

"The race is worth $5,000 and the breeder's bonus is around another $4,000 so there is a good incentive to breed. Being so young these pups are eligible for the next Breeder's Classic as well so we'll get a go at that too."

While confident Supreme Shadow can make his presence felt in Tuesday's final, Ryan says the second of his runners Kilcullen, a son of Cutting Edge, will need his share of luck despite being well boxed.

"He's a fluker's chance at big odds," Ryan told.

"He can show early speed and is well drawn out wide but he'll struggle to cross the six, Logo. If he does happen to lead he'll need some trouble behind.

"I give Supreme Shadow a good chance providing he does everything right but he is giving a lot of experience away, especially to Ben Englund's three dogs; I'm not a punter but if I was I'd be looking at them."

Englund has qualified Wynburn Dancer (box one), Wynburn Rambo (box four) and Wynburn Lethal (box seven) for Tuesday's final.

Littermates by Dyna Double One out of Wynburn Arrow, Wynburn Lethal made it six wins from 13 appearances winning her semi-final last week in 25.65, while Wynburn Dancer and Wynburn Rambo progressed by way of their runner-up performances.

"Ben's dogs are going to be very hard to beat," Ryan explained.

"They are broken-in at Devonport, educated there and have race experience there.

"My dog (Supreme Shadow) is suited to Devonport and I can't fault him, he's a professional little dog. He's a short, fat stumpy little thing so he gets around Devonport great – if he comes out well tomorrow he'll run a good race."

While Sacred Shadow is primed for a bold showing in Tuesday's Breeder's Classic decider, Ryan told the Recorder some of his equally talented littermates are being targeted towards the upcoming Maiden Thousand heats at Hobart.

"A couple of the others will be far better suited at Hobart," Ryan said.

"At Hobart even if you are slow away you still get your chance; it's our best track by far so I'm looking forward to getting a few of them there."