When Blue Squirrel scored first up at Wentworth Park last Friday in a fast 29.79 on a sloppy track he continued the remarkable success of a dam line established by Oakville breeder Elizabeth Bont more than a decade ago.
Yet Elizabeth did not become a trainer until 1986, with the first greyhound she and husband Peter owned in 1974 being an unraced pet.
"Peter and I are good friends with Richard Dean, who had trained the 1984 and 1985 NSW Greyhound Of The Year National Lass," she said. "He suggested we should start breeding, rearing and training."
"His logic was 'you've got five acres so use it', so we bought Sheer Rock, a litter brother to top grader Tutanekai Lad, which was owned and trained by National Lass's owner Richard Zammit.
"Sheer Rock won eight races for us but was such a bad beginner race caller Paul Ambrosoli would often say 'that dog has jumped as slowly as Sheer Rock!'
"We then bought Perfect Fox and Nashville Fox and they each won in town, with Nashville Fox winning 22 races."
The couple then took time out from the sport to raise their growing family, which would include four children.
"When we got back into the sport I bought Michelin Bale and Jillo Bale, who were American-bred," Elizabeth said.
"Mated together they produced Arizona Raider, who won 25 races, including a dozen in town.
"While he did not win a big race he reached several major finals.
"His litter sister Sweet Alabama won over both 520m and 720m at Wentworth Park and won the $10,000 to the winner Tedesco Tailoring Cup at Wentworth Park."
Jillo Bale's next mating was to Brett Lee and that union produced True Destiny and Indiana Lee, who became the foundation of our couple's greyhounds' bloodlines.
"True Destiny won 33 races and gave us our biggest thrill when he won the 2007 Collerson, the consolation race for greyhounds which narrowly missed qualifying for the Paws Of Thunder final on the same night," Elizabeth said.
"When he won The Collerson True Destiny clocked faster time than the Paws Of Thunder winner Leprechaun Pace.
"Through no fault of his own True Destiny also gave us our biggest disappointment as he 'won' the $20,000 to the winner Dapto Breeders Plate which was declared 'no race' after a fallen dog had run back into the field.
"True Destiny's sister Indiana Lee went to stud and from her first litter to Droopy's Marco she whelped Marco Man, a brilliant short courser who contested a Tweed Heads Galaxy, Sunny Wil, who won 12 races, and three bitches, Indiana Rose, Indiana Showgirl and Sierra Lee.
"The girls won 23 races between them and each has been an outstanding producer.
"Indiana Rose is the mother of last week's Wenty winner Blue Squirrel and the same dam line gave us Arizona Dozer, the fastest greyhound we have raced.
"By Bit Chili from True Destiny's sister Indiana Lee, Arizona Dozer won 39 races in Australia and another seven in China where is now standing at stud."
After a string of wins, Arizona Dozer was sent to Victoria where he broke four track records, with his Ballarat 390m record still standing.
Apart from her greyhounds' winner producing bloodlines, Elizabeth Bont believes her success is largely due to the way she educates her greyhounds.
"Because Peter works full-time I breed, rear, educate and train all our dogs,'' she said.
"I have even looked after stud dogs, and I don't think there have been too many female studmasters.
"While most young greyhounds experience a month's breaking-in course, I take three or four months to complete their pre-race education.
"Dogs learn bad habits quickly so by taking my time I ensure they have good traits when they reach the racetrack.
"Blue Squirrel showed nothing as a youngster and was two years old before he came good.''
Wentworth Park rates as Elizabeth's favourite track.
"The boxes are well positioned, its limited width stops dogs running too wide, and the water bay is near the catching pen," she said.
When it comes to the best greyhounds she has seen, quiet achiever Elizabeth rates National Lass and current champion Fernando Bale as the tops.
