Stylish Scene, who could not run 500m and won only two 411m Casino races from 11 starts, continues to shine as a dam with Unbroken, her latest offspring to hit the track, taking his Maitland record to three wins and a second from four starts last Thursday.
The Majella Ferguson-trained Unbroken won a heat of the Commercial Hotel Morpeth Christmas Cup in a slick 25.18 and is set to start favourite in Thursday’s final.
Unbroken is from Stylish Scene’s fifth litter, with her earlier progeny including group winners Irreplaceable and Dazzle You, WA star Mungo Park, Brohman, Revealed, Sanfe, the flying Unexplained and Unfinished.
“Unexplained was as fast as any of them and trialled 22.20 at Richmond but broke down more than a dozen times so my husband Craig and I eventually sold him to China for stud purposes,’’ Majella Ferguson said yesterday.
“We sold Unfinished to breeder George Kairouz and it was her pup by Where’s Pedro which sold for $30,000 at last week’s Richmond auction.
“Craig and his dad, the late Bruce Ferguson, bought Stylish Scene as a puppy but while she was no great shakes on the racetrack they had secured her for breeding because of her bloodlines and she didn’t let us down in that capacity.
“I haven’t got much racing at present because my best greyhound Cyclone Simone fell and tore her hip at The Meadows on November 15 so with her out of action Unbroken is keeping the kennel going.’’
Unbroken made the pace when third to subsequent winner Karma Connie at his only Wentworth Park start and is set to return to the metropolitan circuit shortly.
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Urban Cargo was so impressive winning a maiden race at Maitland on Thursday that Melbourne maestro Darren McDonald phoned trainer Charmaine Roberts and said he would eventually like to train the dog.
Urban Cargo was having his first start for Roberts when he led throughout at Maitland, zipping over the 450m in a slick 25.28.
“Charmaine saw Urban Cargo trial well for his previous trainer Ron Steel from WELLINGTON, and after the dog had run placings at Coonamble and Dubbo she bought him,’’ Roberts’ partner Shayne Stiff said yesterday.
“The dog went well at Maitland because he had not seen the track before and after watching the race Darren McDonald was on the phone saying how impressive he had been.
“Darren trains Eliza Blanche for Charmaine and she has won 13 from 20 starts and earned $65,000 prize-money.
“Charmaine last week refused an offer of $150,000 for Eliza Blanche last week on Darren’s advice.
“That greyhound is now being set for the Group 1 650m Sale Cup late this month.
“Maybe Urban Cargo’s Maitland win has changed our luck because we hit a kangaroo on the way home from Bathurst on Monday and did $10,000 worth of damage to our car.
“So despite the 10-hour round trip the visit to Maitland was worthwhile.’’
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The aptly-named Just Run It, owned by a syndicate which include four young rugby union players, will trial at Wentworth Park tomorrow in preparation for his first start at the track on Friday night.
Just Run It is fastest qualifier for Friday’s Maitland to Wenty final after winning his 450m heat last Wednesday in 25.31, taking his tally to nine wins from 35 starts.
“My husband Eric and I bred Just Run It and our veterinary surgeon Peter Yore recommended to the syndicate that they buy this pup from us,’’ trainer Billie Sharman said.
“Les Sherwood is the syndicate head but two of his sons and two of their friends, who all play rugby union in the Hunter Valley, are part-owners.
“Just Run It, which is an expression they call out when playing rugby, is the first greyhound they have owned.
“He is a talented greyhound but is his flaw is that he is not a good box dog and lacks a bit of early pace.
“We’ll know a lot more after we see how he trials at Wentworth Park on Tuesday.’’
