Caption: Wynburn Sheean leads throughout in a brilliant display to land the recent Ladbrokes Devonport Chase and end a 34-year drought in the feature for the Englund family.

Tasmanian News With BRENNAN RYAN

STAR local sprinter Wynburn Sheean ended a long drought for the Englund family in the Ladbrokes Devonport Chase when he produced a brilliant front-running performance to blitz his rivals in the recent Group Three feature.

Favoured by an outside draw, the Ben Englund-trained son of Aston Dee Bee and She’s All Class blew his rivals away, winning by 5-1/4 lengths in a very slick 25.41 seconds.

Victorian chaser Aston Pilsner flashed home to nail second while Highland Chief ran on for third.

Wynburn Sheean ended a 34-year drought for connections in the Devonport Chase with Wynyard trainer Ben Englund now joining his dad Tom on the honour roll. Tom prepared Hall of Fame greyhound Wynlee Wonder to win the 1982 Devonport Cup in a famous track record time.

Victory for Wynburn Sheean took his record to nine wins from 12 starts and $44,700 in prizemoney.

Wynburn Racing is flying sky high at the moment and a jubilant Tom Englund was more than emotional post-race.

“I remember Wynlee Wonder winning the race, as vividly as today,” he said.

“We are so rapt to have the calibre of this dog in our kennel.

“The name comes from Teddy Sheean (World War II veteran) and we hoped he would pick up the tenacity and courage of his namesake.

“He has gone from strength to strength though this series. I’m so delighted in how tough the dog is.”

Ben and Tom Englund had set about preparing Wynburn Sheean right to the minute for the race.

“After he was defeated in the last stride by Kintyre in the St Leger at Hobart, we made the decision right from there that Wynburn Sheean would be set by our best efforts for the Devonport Chase,” said Tom.

“To get a big win on the board not only for our kennel but for the dog too has paid off in a big way.”

For a father to see his son achieve success in any field certainly brings a lot of pride and Tom watching Ben reach the heights he has achieved in the local training ranks was a great family moment.

“Ben has shown he has matured as a trainer, he loves all aspects of training greyhounds. The passion Ben has for the industry is rewarding to watch and he really wants to see the sport grow,” said Tom.

Wynburn Sheean gave his ill-fated dam She’s All Class her 199th overall victory.

Wynburn Sheean continued his great form after the Devonport Chase, racing to a brilliant win in his heat of the Hobart Thousand on December 10.

The black chaser won his heat by eight lengths from Western Creek in 25.82.

“The dog is racing full of confidence and that should prepare him well for our biggest race in Tassie,” Ben said.

Wynburn Sheean drew box three for the $75,000-to-the-winner Hobart Thousand final (461m) which was set down for December 17.