Don Rhodes currently has his best greyhound in the biggest race of his training career.

This greyhounds name is Short Straw Trev, affectionately known as Collingwood because of his black and white colouring. He lines up in the Western Districts Derby tomorrow night at Ballarat with $22,000 up for grabs.

Short Straw Trev is blessed with blistering early speed, leading six of his 12 career starts including his heat of the Derby where he was run down by Shima Stan to finish second.

“He has terrific first sectionals but at this stage he isn’t finishing off his races,” trainer Don Rhodes said.

Short Straw Trev hasn’t run unplaced since September last year. His highest achievement to date was victory in the Rising Star Final at Sale where he took home the $7,000 first prize on Sale Cup night.

Short Straw Trev winning the Rising Star final at Sale from box 7.

Short Straw Trev had the fastest first split of the eight Ballarat Derby Finalist by close to two lengths.

“I am hoping he will find the lead like he has been doing,” Rhodes said.

“Even though he hasn’t been finishing the races off as strong as I would like, I would prefer to be out in front in good races.”

Rhodes credits coursing for Short Straw Trev’s early speed and didn’t deny a possible Waterloo Cup campaign.

“He really enjoyed coursing and I believe it got him chasing and assisted with his early speed.”

Short Straw Trev is undefeated in his coursing career which includes victory in the Victorian Derby at Lang Lang.

The Western Districts Derby final is race eight on the card, set to jump at 8.53pm.