Caption: Ben and Tom Englund take centre stage with star chaser Wynburn Sheean as they celebrate their first Group 2 Ladbrokes Launceston Cup victory. Second was Sprint Gordon, with Goodnight Vicki third.

By Brennan Ryan

Superstar local chaser Wynburn Sheean gave proud trainer Ben Englund his first Ladbrokes Launceston Cup title when he registered a tenacious victory in the Group 2 $40,000 feature at Launceston in February.

The mighty son of Aston Dee Bee and She’s All Class was only fairly away from box six as the $2.60 favourite, but had plenty of room to muster pace and was able to slip around and take the lead through the first turn.

Once out in front there was only one danger, the Blake Pursell-trained Sprint Gordon, which loomed up to eyeball the leader swinging for home. However entering the straight Wynburn Sheean kicked again and was able to hold off Sprint Gordon ($8) to win by a length in a slick 29.69 seconds. Goodnight Vicki ($81) was third.

Englund, who joins an elite group of trainers in achieving the historic Devonport Chase – Launceston Cup double, said he gave Wynburn Sheean every hope despite needing a lot of luck in the first section of the race.

“I couldn’t be prouder of Wynburn Sheean, he showed plenty of determination and a big will to win which sets him apart from other dogs. For him to qualify for all three group finals and win two, it’s unreal,” the trainer said.

“Wynburn Sheean is by the far the best I’ve trained. His tenacity and huge will to win makes him really special.”

The black flyer has continued to step up into the top ranks of local sprinters in Tasmania, becoming the sixth greyhound in recent history, and the first since the Gavin Burke-trained Pantera Nera (2017), to win the cups double.

Wynburn Sheean has now won 15 races with three minor placings from 19 starts. His earnings sit at $97,860 in stakes for the Wynburn Racing Syndicate headed by Ben’s father Tom Englund and is now a dual group winner.

Connections will now map at a plan for their star chaser with a trip to the mainland on the cards.

“There are races like the Shepparton Cup coming up, though with current travel restrictions due to COVID-19 it does make things hard. There are still some nice races coming up back here, so we will see how it pans out,” said Ben Englund.

“This will take a while to sink in. We will definitely reflect over it but overall, I can’t be happier in the result.”

After the place runners in the cup the field finished in the following order 4^th Fabulous Baroque ($21), 5^th Quick Joey Small ($6.50), 6^th Highland Wonder ($20), 7^th Siberia ($31) and 8^th Eagles Nest Egg ($2.90).

Previous Launceston Cup winners:

2013 – Xylia Allen

2014 – Varcoe

2015 – Brad Hill Billy

2016 – Fantastic Spiral

2017 – Pantera Nera

2018 – Del Rey

2019 – Hello Rhonda

2020 – Caishen

2021 – Wynburn Sheean