Tommy Shelby Sizzles In Hobart Thousand Audition

WESTERN Australian star Tommy Shelby has taken a giant leap towards securing his maiden group 1 title with a near record breaking heat victory in the Ladbrokes Hobart Thousand (461m) on Thursday night.

Backing up his slashing 25.48 trial at the venue last Thursday in sublime style, Tommy Shelby was simply brilliant in annexing the third qualifier of the $75,000-to-the-winner series, stopping the clock in a dazzling 25.45.

The time was just 1/100th outside Stanley Gordon's 25.44 track record.

Before Tommy Shelby finished a courageous third to Hard Style Rico in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup late last month, trainer Steve Withers had planned on returning home to WA with his star conveyance to freshen up for an assault on some major races to kick off 2021.

But after going from strength-to-strength following his Melbourne Cup bid the decision was made to head to Tasmania for the Hobart Thousand with the hopes of claiming an elusive group 1 title.

Thursday's sizzling heat success ensured that plan was right on track, with the greyhound dubbed “the people's dog” all but certain to start favourite in next week's final.

Another greyhound in Hobart eyeing a deserved group 1 breakthrough is the Correy Grenfell-trained Tiggerlong Tonk.

Fastest qualifier for last year's Hobart Thousand final won by Hooked On Scotch, Tiggerlong Tonk progressed through to next week's finale with a 25.76 heat victory, staving off the challenge of a gallant Sprint Gordon.

The appearance of two of the country's premier sprinters both eyeing a maiden group 1 triumph has made for a stellar clash heading towards next week's Hobart Thousand.

On a night of competitive racing, the opening heat was won by local star Wynburn Sheean, the Group 3 Devonport Chase winner stopping the clock in 25.82.

SA star Shadow Mist, fastest qualifier for the TAB Million Dollar Chase Final (520m) at Wentworth Park in October, progressed through to next week's finale with a last stride heat win in 25.88, while Zevatron qualified for Victorian trainer Paul Abela in 26.01.

Heat seven went the way of local sprinter Kintyre for Debbie Cannan in 25.86 while in the final qualifier, red hot favourite Paua Of Oscar was never in the hunt with Wynburn Lethal scoring in 26.01, handing Ben Englund two Hobart Thousand finalists following Wynburn Sheean's win earlier in the night.

On times alone, Tommy Shelby takes a decided advantage into next week's rich decider.

The box draw will be conducted on Saturday night at the Hobart Thousand Hall of Fame dinner.

And providing things don't go completely awry for the star son of Fernando Bale, he'll start a warm favourite for next week's final with Tiggerlong Tonk to garner plenty of support also.