If you want to know about rollercoaster weeks, talk to Minnie Finn.
The Cranebrook owner/trainer’s unbeaten newcomer Winsome Prince, one of NSW’s most exciting newcomers, was due to go for an eighth win in a row at Maitland on Thursday but was sidelined with a toenail injury.
That blow was forgotten, though, when one of Finn’s exciting debutants, Winsome Jacko (pictured with connections, courtesy Stephen Whalland), produced a storming 21.98 run in Brodie Wells Electrical Future Stars Clasic Maiden (400m) to smash the distance record at the Hunter track by 0.13 seconds.
Check out Winsome Jacko's incredible run here.
With littermates Winsome Mission and Winsome Bluey also impressively winning their heats, it was a day to remember for Finn.
“It’s pretty exciting,” she said.
“Ever since we broke them in they have been fast pups and I thought Winsome Jacko could go close to the record.
“We were talking about all the fast greyhounds that have raced at Maitland. To be the first one to go under 22 seconds is pretty special.”
Winsome Jacko, Winsome Mission and Winsome Bluey were whelped in April 2013 are from El Grand Senor and brood bitch Ramblin’ Ruby, who won 18 races and earned $48,000.
Another member of the exciting litter, Winsome Amanda, finished second in a heat at Maitland.
“My feeling was that Winsome Mission will be the best of them,” Finn said.
“He has speed and used to beat Winsome Jacko, but then went a bit off.
“If he gets an inside draw in the final he will be hard to beat.”
Meanwhile, Winsome Prince is likely to be out of action for at least the next week after injuring a toenail while recording his seventh straight win at Maitland the previous week.
“I saw him pull up in the catching pen after the race and thought, ‘oh no’,” Finn said.
“The vet has said it will be a couple of weeks so hopefully he will be back soon.”
“I just wish I hadn’t had to scratch Winsome Prince at Maitland. I might have had two records to celebrate.”
Finn and her husband may have had more reason to celebrate last night, with Anything Less contesting the semi-finals of the Group 1 Ladbrokes Vic Peters Classic (520m) at Wentworth Park.
The $8000-to-the-winner Brodie Wells Electrical Future Stars Maiden Final takes place at Maitland this Thursday.
