Michael and Rita Nicolaou are precisely the kind of people who make greyhound racing tick.
They breed and rear puppies, break them in and then enjoy owning and training them and watching them race.
And apart from Michael's ever-smiling, friendly demeanour, that is one reason the win by Collision Post, at odds of $31 at Wentworth Park last Friday night, was among the most popular successes I've seen in years.
Countless fellow trainers congratulated a beaming Michael who was trackside while wife Rita stayed home to care for their brood bitches, juveniles and team of 10 racers on their 10-acre Box Hill property.
Friday night marked Collision Post's seventh win in 85 starts and took his earnings to $21,200, making the four year-old the current star of the kennel.
While Collision Post's long overdue win was only in a modest Friday night fourth and fifth grade, Michael Nicolaou was as "pumped up'' as he was when his thoroughbred March Magic finished fourth to Sir Dapper in the 1983 Golden Slipper at Rosehill.
"I migrated from Greece 41 years ago, when I was 20, because I had two sisters and a brother here who loved Australia,'' Michael said. "I soon began going to the races with friends.
"It wasn't long before we bought a couple of thoroughbreds which weren't much good.
"Then we leased March Magic, who was trained at Rosehill by Jack Daniels and who won half a dozen races and finished right behind the placegetters in Sir Dapper's Golden Slipper.
"But because thoroughbreds were so costly to maintain I switched to greyhounds.
"I have never regretted that because they are so much more hands-on.
"If you own a racehorse you might get to pat it at the stables or after a race but greyhounds are so welcoming and whether they win or lose they give you a wonderful reception after a race."
The couple were living at Wentworthville when they bought their first greyhound, an 18-month-old youngster called Curious Eyes.
"He won for us at Appin so we then paid $800 for Silent Bandit who was a terrific money-spinner," Michael, whose wife is Australian born of Italian parentage, said.
"He won a couple of races at PENRITH and one at MUDGEE but when he won at Wentworth Park at 50/1 ($51) I backed him and we had a nice win.
"We then bought Speedy Chimes for $3000 and while she won only three races, at Dubbo and PENRITH, she was a fantastic brood bitch.
"She had five or six litters and with nearly all her offspring city class she took out the GBOTA's brood bitch of the year award.
"One of her pups, Star Lad, remains our best greyhound. He won 10 races at Wentworth Park while Speedy Chimes also produced a good metropolitan class stayer, Rocket Lad.
"We moved to Box Hill 18 years ago and as I have retired from my role in the building industry as a wall and floor tiler there is more time for the greyhounds.
"There is a 15 months old litter at home by Fancy Dean which broke in reasonably well while Catch The Post, the dam of Collision Post, has four dogs and four bitches by Cosmic Rumble which are nine months old.
"Catch The Post has been a handy brood bitch as while Collision Post was from her first litter, her second litter includes Funny Bone, which has won six races, including two at Wentworth Park, for owner-trainer Simon Ma.''
Nicolaou-trained greyhounds may not be starring in Group 1 races but their durability is testament to the way Rita and Michael care for their dogs.
Collision Post's dam Catch The Post had 71 starts for seven wins and 18 placings, while Collision Post's present kennelmates include Grin To Win and Greek Drama.
Grin To Win has had six wins and 21 placings from 71 races while Greek Drama's 79 appearances have yielded three wins and 19 placings.
Both greyhounds are still going strong as well.
Typically, the Nicolaous say their favourite track is "wherever we win a race'' and their biggest thrills in the sport have come from "just seeing one of our dogs win.''
And their all-time favourite race dog? "How could anyone go past Fernando Bale," Michael said. "He is phenomenal."
