28 Feb 2019

Battle lines have been drawn as Chili’s Quicksilver and Zorro’s Golden Strider will face each other once again in what is promising to be a scintillating Botswana Greyhound Association’s Mmopane Sprint Classic edition on March 2.

The two greyhounds will be competing in the 300m speed open male category.

In the last edition, it was Strider, who prevailed against Quicksilver and was crowned the champion in the 200m open males. Despite the loss, Quicksilver has  proved to be aggresive and is able to come from behind and cause an upset while on the other hand, Strider has demonstrated that he has no respect for any dog.

And Strider proved that in the last Mmopane Sprint Classics competition, when it beat Quicksilver in the finals.

Quicksilver; blue in colour is a male with a muscle second to none.

Quicksilver, the 2018 Ghanzi Show Open male champion, was bred from the same sire dog called Chilliboy in South Africa.

Chilliboy, now retired due to old age, is still South Africa’s 500m record holder with 30.69.

Strider, on the other hand represents the Zorro bloodline; a male in South Africa and has sired many other top racing dogs in South Africa.

Born in South Africa in January 2017, Strider was bred by Casper Swanepoel but it is currently owned and trained by Kebone Sephatla.

It is very imperious but a marvel dog to watch and it is well built with an eye catching figure. 

In an interview, Quicksilver trainer and owner, Major Piet Gabosekwe said his dog was ready for the fierce battle adding that in the last competition, the dog’s fitness was questionable.

“This time around, I engaged it in extensive training but I ensured that I did not drain its energy.  It was a bit fat but I have managed to trim it. 

Normally, we judge it by the three ribs, if they are not visible it means the dog is fat and not fit for the race,” he said.

He said they engaged it in walking and jogging for two kilometres as part of the preparations. Also, he said he fed the dog healthy and nutritious food like dog pellets and rice mixed with meat.

 “We strongly believe rice is good for the dogs because it has carbohydrates and it helps to give them energy,” he said.

He said he was very confident that this time around, Quicksilver would redeem its price adding that he would not rule out Strider given that it was a very sharp dog.“Quicksilver is a fighter. Most of his races always end in photo finish and it is capable of attacking from behind, but I must confess Strider is a better sprinter.

But again I don’t want to rule out Captain K, it is one dog that might spoil the party,” he said.

Strider trainer and owner Sephatla said his dog was equally ready for the competition and it would be very difficult for any dog to stop it.

He said the only thing that they did not do was track training, adding that they had been working on sprint and endurance.

“Quicksilver is a short distance runner, so when they for 300m and 500m races, I don’t think Quicksilver will managed to match the ‘flying without wings’ Strider,” he said.

The two dogs will line up with Thunderbolt, Bricks, Elvis, Maserati and Captain K, which is tipped to silence the much hyped Quicksilver and Strider.

A mother of battles is also expected in the U-15 speed 300m category where Extra Chilli will face King Monada, Sonic Flight, Superman, Inferno, Slender, Tracy, Wild Angel, Fighter Jet, Wrong Turn, Follow the leader, Distance and Fear. ENDS