Greyhound racing looks to have welcomed a new long distance star following the sizzling 41.99 all the way win by Irinka Hope at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Despite the ease of his bitch’s win, trainer Ray Smith wasn’t getting carried away after the race.
“Naturally I was very pleased with how she went but she hasn’t been put to the sword yet," Smith said.
"We’ll have to wait and see how she handles it when she gets checked early,’’ Ray said.
“Until I put Irinka Hope over 700 I wasn’t sure if she could stay but I had no choice because she had been getting knocked around too much in shorter races, especially those from bend starts, and was becoming field shy.’’
Owners and trainer are embracing the masters race concept, restricted to greyhounds more than three-and-a-half years old, and Silver Domino became the first to win a veterans’ event at a Wentworth Park Saturday night meeting at the weekend.
Proving the concept was definitely not for “has beens’’ Silver Domino led throughout in 30.07, .20 or the equivalent of three lengths, faster than his previous best Wentworth Park Time.
Silver Domino has been a wonderful money-spinner for his central coast trainer Philip Wall, who bought the greyhound as a performed dog for only $3000.
Wall a nurse at an aged care facility, has only two greyhounds in work and Silver Domino has now earned over $33,000 in stakes for Phil and his wife Sherryn.
He has dabbled in greyhounds for 28 years and had his biggest thrill in 1995 when his dog Tommy Denver finished fourth to Gaylene in a Young Star Classic final at Wentworth Park.
Justin Westall owned eight greyhounds without landing a city winner until Bobby Blanco came along, but the dog scored for him at Wentworth Park on June 13 and at the weekend gave Westall his first Saturday night winner in town when he ran down Hector Khan to win the opening event.
Bobby Blanco was placed, without winning, in five of his first seven Wentworth Park races after tending the miss the jump and run wide.
But on Saturday the dog showed improved box manners and railed underneath his rivals on the home turn before surging away to win.
“A lot of dogs take Time to come good," trainer Dean Swain said post-race. "Just look at my Peter Mosman Classic placegetter Push It.
“She only won three of her first 20 starts and, like her, Bobby Blanco has taken Time to put it all together.’’
Friends of Muswellbrook butcher Peter Quinton were cheering keenly when his dog Hayden Hair led throughout in Saturday night’s 720m Sportingbet Stakes at the Glebe track.
Peter recently arrived home after winning with Hayden Hair at Gunnedah to find that his wife Robyn, 71, had died suddenly of a massive heart attack.
Everyone at Greyhound Racing NSW sends their respects and condolences to Peter and his family.
