Another Track Record To Xylia Allen
In the modern era many greyhounds are labelled as champions, some well before they are worthy of the title, however nobody has any qualms about describing Xylia Allen as a genuine champion of our sport.
Without a doubt, she is one of the most versatile and gifted greyhounds to have ever raced in this country.
Xylia Allen's combination of pace and strength was on show for all to witness again at Geelong last Friday night when she added the Geelong track record over the 680 metres to her bulging list of achievements.
Carrying the green rug, Xylia Allen jumped well and crossed the field as they left the home straight on the first occasion, with Hailstorm Billy and Sisco Rage following. As the field raced into the back straight, the super bitch began to increase her margin slightly, with the chasers beginning to labour in their attempt to stay in touch. At the judge, Xylia Allen had 6.75 lengths to spare over Hailstorm Billy, who was gallant in defeat, with Sisco Rage a further 4.5 lengths away third.
The time posted by Xylia Allen was a slippery 38.90 seconds, surpassing the time standard of 38.92 seconds held previously by another of the Wheeler bred and raced greyhounds in Wilma Bale.
Not only did Xylia Allen break the track record at Geelong, she made it two track records from her last two starts as she set new figures at Horsham on March 25, running a superb 31.93 over the 570 metres at that venue.
When you look at the career highlights of Xylia Allen, it must be said there are not too many feature races which when contested, she has not been able to win. Her list of credits include a Group 2 Launceston Cup, Group 1 Sapphire Crown at Sandown, Group 1 National Sprint Championship Final and the Group 3 Sandown Shoot out to name a few.
Overall, Xylia Allen has now started on 59 occasions for 26 wins and 19 minors and stake earnings of just over $480,000.
Bred and raced by the Wheeler dynasty and trained by Jenny Hunt, Xylia Allen is a testament to the long term breeding program of Paul Wheeler, as her dam line is exclusively Wheeler Bred. Sired by Turanza Bale (Primo Uno-Daishi Bale) out of Tayah Bale (Droopys Vieri-Francesca Bale), Xylia Allen has Wheeler bred greyhounds back four generations in her dam line.
The other amazing fact about Xylia Allen has been her ability to compete at the elite level over both the sprint and staying journeys, a rare talent indeed.
The only other greyhound I can recall who could be mentioned in those terms would be the legendary Zoom Top.
The old timers like to espouse the talents of the mighty Zoom Top, who had the versatility to compete over sprint and distance and win with monotonous regularity. In fact Zoom Top won 68 races from 136 starts and set or equaled fifteen track records in her career, resulting in induction to the Australian Greyhound Racing Association (AGRA) Hall of Fame.
Although she has still has a way to go to equal or exceed the deeds of the mighty Zoom Top, Xylia Allen may be spoken about with the same regard in years to come.