Superstar greyhound Paw Licking's owner Allan Lang could have another star in the making in the shape of Weekend Binge.
The champion's half-brother Weekend Binge took out the $4000 to the winner Butch Monkley Memorial Maiden Final at Wauchope on New Year's Eve.
Weekend Binge won his 384m heat in a moderate 22 seconds but slashed those figures to a near track record 21.50 when he led throughout in the final.
Paw Licking, who won a Group 1 and four Group 2 finals on his way to earning $430,000 for Lang, was bred by Northern Rivers breeder Charlie Northfield.
So it was hardly surprising Lang went back to Northfield to buy a pup from the next litter produced by Kingsbrae Di, dam of Paw Licking.
"I bought Weekend Binge for $6000 when he was three months old,'' Lang said.
"I wasn't surprised Weekend Binge went so fast in the final. When he won his heat it was the first time the dog had Ever been in a field - previously he had only had solo trials.
"He flew out of the boxes in the final and that is what he usually does.''
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Sandave Sapphire won over 565m at Maitland last Thursday in 31.51 - a length outside the track record set by recent Group 1 Sale Cup winner No Donuts.
The performance was all the more remarkable considering Sandave Sapphire was having her first start for over five months.
"Sandave Sapphire injured a ligament in a toe at Wentworth Park in July," owner-trainer Dave Richardson said. "She was sidelined for so long because after the snapped ligament healed she got a corn on the same toe.
"I managed to get rid of that with an acupuncture pencil and before Thursday she had been trialling well.
"I'm having a good trot at present because Sketchy Chief has just won over 400m at Maitland in 22.29
"Sandave Prince, my fastest dog, recently set a new Bulli 472m record when he won in 25.85.
"Unfortunately Sandave Prince can't handle tight tracks so he will be restricted to big one turn circuits.
"I trialled him at Gosford and he went awful so he won't be going to Wentworth Park, but I don't intend to send him to a Melbourne trainer.
"Like all my other greyhounds, he has been with me since the day he was born so we won't be getting separated.''
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Popular Matraville trainer Domenic Traino died on New Year's Eve after a struggle against cancer.
Traino was involved with greyhound racing for over 60 years and was a GBOTA member for the past 50 years.
His most recent Wentworth Park winner was My Lady Day, who broke the 30 second barrier in each of four wins at the track in 2015.
Traino is survived by his wife Dorothy, children Vicki and DEAN and grand-children Hugo (16) and Olive (13).
Funeral arrangements will be announced later this week.
