Emily Dawn, who turned four in January, proved she was racing as well as ever with a slick all the way win in last Monday night’s Macro Meats Veterans Stakes at Wentworth Park.
Trained by 78-year-old Robert Jackson, Emily Dawn covered the 280m in 16.14, much quicker than the figures one would normally associate with an "old timer" greyhound, to score her 20th win.
"When she was young Emily Dawn only trialled 16.16 and six nights before last Monday’s race I took her back to Wenty and she clocked 16.19 in a trial," Robert said.
"I bred her and her sister Dawn Knows Best from my bitch Dawn’s Memory, who won four successive 520 metre races at Wentworth Park and was runner up in a Goulburn Cup final.
"While Dawn’s Memory won four races in town she also ran several placings after leading and getting run down.
"Dawn Knows Best was quicker than Emily Dawn and won over 520 metres at Wentworth Park but finished up turning her head in a race, not making contact but having a look, so she was retired.
"I gave Dawn Knows Best to someone and when she and Emily Dawn come in season hopefully they will have pups.
"I began training when I was in my early 20s and was originally in Reynolds Road, Londonderry, where they were a stack of top trainers including Jimmy Coleman.
"These days I’m at Hill Top, on the Sydney side of Mittagong, and still enjoy training although my knees are gone and I have to get someone to help me handle my greyhounds on race night.
"I had Emily Dawn’s younger sister Paula Dawn in a 520 metre race at Wenty last Monday and gave her a chance after she trialled 30.47 there.
"She made the pace but got swamped by Darren Sultana’s dog Silent Effective, boy can’t that dog run!"
