Jack Johnson creates Silver Collar history
Peter Fenemor • June 9th, 2025 3:23 PM • 5 min read
20-year-old Jack Johnson created history in Sunday’s prestigious Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar by becoming the youngest trainer to mentor the 54th winner of New Zealand’s premier staying race.
Opawa Corban comprehensively outstayed the classy field of stayers when he finished powerfully to land his comfortable, five-length 47.23 victory in the $80,000 Group 1 779m event.
Last year’s Silver Collar winner Chief Dribble was gallant when emerging from the pack during the run home to secure his second placing for his conditioner Matt Roberts.
The Garry Cleeve prepared Little Dodo displayed tremendous staying nous when he rocketed home from last to claim his third placing a further 1.25 lengths behind and in doing so made it an all Canterbury trained Silver Collar trifecta.
Boom Lateral led out with the Rob Roper trained stayer cutting cut the first 318m sectional in 18.80, then reaching the back mark in 30.72, while being chased by Johnny Football for Lisa Cole and the Jamie Pruden trained Sweet And Sassy.
Chief Dribble made a strong forward move, looming into contention going down the back straight the last time, while Opawa Corban was midfield where he had settled.
The field came together when rounding the final turn from where Opawa Corban strode clear.
Understandably it was an ecstatic Johnson who returned to the postrace podium with Opawa Corban which saw the solid silver collar, donated by Prince Phillip, being placed around Opawa Corban's neck.
Johnson, whose father Chris Johnson holds the record for the most race wins by a New Zealand jockey (2,515 wins), has been a greyhound trainer for two-years.
“This is what dreams are made off – to win the Silver Collar as a trainer is an unbelievable feeling.
“I thought Opawa Corban was handy enough during the running and it was a case of him securing clear racing air. When the field bunched on the final turn, I saw that Opawa Corban had momentum up out wide.
“He found the line super strongly. It’s only just starting to sink in the magnitude of the win,” enthused Johnson.
Jonhson also prepared the fourth placegetter Adobe Videl who was gallant after receiving an impeded racing passage.
“Adobe Videl was stiff. She was handy early then got spat out the back. She came home really good for her fourth,” advised Johnson.
Johnson stayed the week between the Silver Collar heats and final at the Peter and Wendy Ferguson Cambridge located kennels, while also looking after Matt Roberts team.
“Massive thanks to Peter and Wendy for allowing us to use their kennels. It’s a huge advantage not having to travel back home and it helped to make the back up for Sunday’s race so much easier.
“There have been so many people who have helped me along the way, who I’m really grateful to. Matt Roberts did a lot of the work in getting Opawa Corban back to the races.
“Mum (Belinda Middlewood) is looking after my greyhounds at home, and I know that Dad would be proud about my win,” an excited Johnson said.
Opawa Corban has now won nine and been placed in 15 of his 40 races, accumulating $100,534 in stake earnings for his elated owner Peter McDermott.
“I thought with a lap of the track left to run that Opawa Corban was nicely enough placed to feature. When the field bunched on the home turn, I got excited with Opawa Corban coming right into it. It’s a tremendous feeling to own the Silver Collar winner.
“I come from a Harness racing background and made the switch to racing greyhounds as I consider it to be the purist form of racing.
“There are so many people that I have to acknowledge who helped me getting to where I am today. Matt (Roberts) and Sarah (Clausen) have been fantastic throughout. Robin Wales has helped by allowing me to buy some of his greyhounds.
“Dan Roberts and Wayne Morris have successfully trained greyhounds for me and that has been capped off by what Jack has done for me today,” an appreciative McDermott said.
Xisco Bale leads throughout for his Waterloo Cup win
Xisco Bale freewheeled his way to victory, giving nothing else a chance in the $30,000 527m event.
At the judge he had built a comfortable 5.75 length margin over his rivals completing his assignment in a handy 30.34 seconds.
The Garry Cleeve prepared Stuck Throttle finished resolutely for his second placing, while Opawa Danny gamely stuck on for his third placing for Corey Steele.
For Roberts this is his sixth training success in the time-honoured Waterloo Cup which dates back to 1878.
“Yes, the Waterloo Cup has been a kind race to me. As soon as I saw Xisco Bale coming away from the traps, then Stuck Throttle coming down (to the rail) I thought we were in pretty good shape.
“When he led down the back I knew then he had it won and he stuck it out strongly to win the race,” advised Roberts, who didn’t make the trip north entrusting the care of his traveling team to his partners Angela Washington’s daughter Leaha and her partner Nick Ware.
For Washington it was her first trip away traveling greyhounds and she was understandably excited and emotional after the race, saying, “Xisco Bale is my baby, I wanted to cry. I’m so proud of him – he needed to jump, which he did. It is an amazing result,” she enthused, while also enjoying further success for Roberts during the afternoon when handling Sinead Bale to win the Peter Earley Classic, plus Paw Bradley who easily won the Auckland Derby.
A grateful Roberts said, “Leaha and Nick have done a wonderful job up there. Xisco Bale was very timid when he arrived here, and it was Leaha who brought him out of his shell. She spent plenty of time cuddling him in his kennel.”
Xisco Bale has now been to the races 34 times, resulting in 11 wins and 12 minor placings adding up to $55,111 in stake earnings for his owner Brenden Wheeler.
