Owner-breeder Lorraine Atchison has rejected a $30,000 offer for Evidence, who broke through for his maiden win over 565m at Maitland last Wednesday.
Trained by Mark Bell, Evidence had been sent out a $2.40 favourite for his opening race, a 520m Wentworth Park maiden heat on January 12, after trialling a sizzling 29.80sec at Wentworth Park.
But in his Wentworth Park race Evidence bungled the start and then wanted to race wide from box one, losing all chance.
“When Lorraine was offered such good money for the dog I told her to sell, pointing out that for Evidence to earn her that much he would have to win $60,000 prize-money,’’ Bell, who trains the greyhound on a 50 per cent of the stakes basis, said.
“But she said she had no intention of selling, saying money was not important to her.’’
Last Wednesday Bell landed a winning double, taking out a 450m event in a smart 25.16 with Lachy Balboa, owned by Atchison’s son-in-law Troy McDonald.
“Wild Ted, the only previous dog I had trained for Lorraine, won in 26.40 over 472m and then in 22.56 over 400m at Bulli in June," bell said. "Unfortunately his career was cut short when he fell heavily at his next race there.
“I was shattered because I had a massive opinion of Wild Ted who was the first greyhound I had trained after undergoing a liver transplant.
“At the time Lorraine said she would eventually replace Wild Ted for me and she has certainly done that with Evidence and Lachy Balboa.
“Lachy Balboa was only a 25.50 dog at Maitland until recently but a couple of months back he was just young and dumb.
“He and Evidence are only 21 months of age and they have absolutely grown a leg over the past few weeks.’’
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Good Lad, a bought for the bargain basement figure of $1000, scored his fifth win from his past dozen starts when he sped over 330m at Richmond last Wednesday in a smart 18.75.
Owner-trainer Sam Simonetta said that while Good Lad, a little 27kg dog, was likely to only ever be a short course greyhound, he had already become a bargain.
“He has won $9500 prizemoney while I have also won well over $5000 on him on the punt,’’ Simonetta said.
“And his litter brother Super Income, which I also bought for $1000, won two weeks back at Bathurst in a fast 17.68 for 307m.
“Super Income is as quick as Good Lad although the latter is a better race dog.
“I got them cheap because a mate of mine had bred this litter of 13 pups and couldn’t sell them.
“So when they were six months old I bought three for $3000.
“I later sold one of them for $2000 to a fellow who has won a couple of races with him, while I am having a lot of fun with Good Lad and Super Income.’’
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“That has saved me from going into a nursing home,’’ was the great quip from veteran trainer Sid Swain after he landed a winning treble at Dapto on Thursday night.
“A few of my friends have been teasing me and saying I was finished as a trainer because I have been having a bit of a lean trot and that I might be ready for a nursing home.
“Winning with Silver Label, Sweet Runner and Revalap at Dapto has put that on hold for sure.’’
Revalap won by 19 lengths, covering the 600m in a slick 34.50, but won’t be tackling 720m just yet.
“She was clean winded after the race and her run home time was strong but I’ll give her a few more middle distance races before stepping her up to staying journeys,’’ Swain said.
