A perfect three from three haul in the Pink Diamond Maiden Sprinter and Maiden Short Course heats at Geelong last Friday night came as a pleasant surprise to veteran trainer/breeder Brendan Dewan.
Brendan, who will turn 80 in December, and son Matthew, who famously selected legendary sire Malawi’s Prince as a pup when only a teenager, enjoyed a 100 per cent strike rate with three homebred Fernando Bale x Dewana Dimie debutantes.
Dewana Fernando clocked a Best Of Night 25.95sec in the Maiden Sprinter heats over 460m, while Dewana Boogie (22.96sec) and Dewana Dream (23.20sec) were both victorious in the Maiden Short Course heats over 400m.
“We thought the first one (Dewana Fernando) could win but the other two were a bit of a surprise,” admitted Brendan Dewan.
WATCH: First starter DEWANA FERNANDO (3) made an impressive debut in the Pink Diamond Maiden Sprinter heats at Geelong last Friday night, clocking a Best Of Night 25.95sec.
“I told people that I gave Dewana Fernando a really good chance but that the other two wouldn’t beat a dog home. So, I’m a real good judge!
“They only just turned 18 months a fortnight ago, but I do have a bit of an opinion of Dewana Fernando. Unfortunately, I missed the odds; they bet 6/1 and he paid about $3 in the end.”
The Dewans also produced another first starter from the litter in the Pink Diamond Maiden Sprinter heats (460m) at Warragul last Thursday in Dewana Scotch, which led when a close third to Mario Briganti’s BOD 25.81sec winner Jemima Rocks.
“Dewana Fernando has drawn Box 1 in his semi-final on Friday and I think he’ll be very hard to beat,” Dewan offered.
“It would be nice to have a runner in the finals, but we won’t be there because we’re going to Bali on Saturday morning.
“I’m getting a bit old and decrepit and Darryl Hamilton is a great help with the dogs, and he’ll be looking after them.”
The Dewans’ Pink Diamond aspirants are from Dewana Dimie’s second litter, with the 2017 Group 1 Sale Cup finalist’s first mating, with Fabregas, producing Australian Cup finalist Orlando.
“We didn’t want to breed another litter at the time, but Lee Moore was looking for a brood bitch,” Dewan explained.
“We said he could use Dewana Babe, but she didn’t come on season, so he ended up breeding with Dewana Dimie.
“I think the Pink Diamond is a good idea to give Victorian breeders a chance at some decent prizemoney. The Maiden series are worth $25,000 and if the dogs go on, next year they might be racing for $75,000.
“Benchester is a dog we bred and sold as a pup and he’s going in the Veterans series, which is also worth $25,000, which is good money for older dogs too.”
