Times might suggest that Spring Eddie cannot win tonight's Sportingbet Cyril Rowe Bulli Gold Plate (457m), but the fact he has made the Group 3 final is an achievement in itself.
Spring Eddie was given to Warilla trainer Bruce Lloyd as a pet after veterinary opinion suggested he was finished as a racing proposition when he broke down for a second time with a fractured sesamoid.
Never one to knock back the chance to give a retired greyhound a good home, Lloyd took on Spring Eddie as a pet but after months of TLC the injury had healed enough for Lloyd to consider putting Spring Eddie back into work.
"I own Spring Eddie with a mate of mine DAVE Purnell, who, like me, is a hobby trainer and just loves the breed. We were both in the right place at the right time when we were given the dog," Lloyd said.
"We had the injury looked at and were given some hope that he may race again and then it was just a matter of being patient and trying a few things, and if it worked it worked but if it didn't he had a home for life anyway.
"The way it has turned out, well, it's a dream."
Spring Eddie showed plenty of heart when he led throughout to win his heat in 26.39, although it was well outside the times recorded by the other heat winners Knocka's Return (26.03) and My Signature (26.06).
"His biggest downfall now is he is almost four years old," Lloyd said.
"But he doesn't know he's four so he might race for another six to eight months, who knows. He's only having his 44th start tonight and at the moment he's still matching it with the younger dogs.
"To be honest I can't believe he has got this far."
However, Lloyd is under no illusions as to the task Spring Eddie faces in tonight's final.
"Firstly, he has to lead, and then he needs to hold a big break turning for home," he said.
"If he does lead and My Signature, Knocka's Return and Belfast Johnny are only a couple of lengths behind him then he won't be able to hold them off. I've just got to hope that he does lead and then there is some interference behind him.
"If he can straighten up six in front then I don't think they'll be able to run him down, but any less and he'll be in trouble.
"Of course there are so many good dogs is the race there is no guarantee he will lead either.
"But this is a huge thrill for DAVE and I just to have a dog in the race. The first prize of $25,000 is a lot to us, but honestly, this is all about the dog, where he's come from and where he is now.
"To make a group final is a recurring dream I've been having for 41 years; now it has finally happened."
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