Tom O'Donovan, whose greyhound Ryno's Raider is likely to start favourite in Saturday night's Group 2 Wentworth Park Summer Plate, came from Ireland four years ago to become a successful trainer in Australia and is now on target to land his first NSW Group final.
Ryno's Raider was desperately unlucky when beaten a head by Sale Cup winner No Donuts in last Saturday's fastest Summer Plate heat and has drawn well in box two in the final.
"He is a mad railer so he is well suited by the draw,'' O'Donovan said. "I did not trial Ryno's Raider at Wentworth Park so considering he was new to the track and missed the jump he did well to finish a close second.''
O'Donovan came to Australia four years ago and has 12 greyhounds in work at Devon Meadows, Victoria.
"My father Tim trained an Irish Derby winner while my uncle Michael O'Donovan has trained two winners of that race,'' O'Donovan said.
While O'Donovan's father and uncle are successful trainers the young Irishman said he learned most from the legendary Pat Dalton, who is based at Golden, in Tipperary.
Until Paul Wheeler came along Dalton, now 79, was the world's most successful owner-breeder, racing big teams of greyhounds in Ireland and the United States.
"I worked for Pat Dalton for five months in the US and he was a tremendous influence on my career,'' O'Donovan said.
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Last week's big wet was a nightmare for greyhound trainers but it has resulted in Newcastle trainer Ron Bell and his principal owners Ken Peddie and Ray Smith securing a starter in Saturday night's Group 1 Ladbrokes Paws Of Thunder final.
Their greyhound Paloma Lago scored a minor upset win in her heat and has drawn box five in the final, but until Wednesday Bell had no intention of nominating her for the race.
"She was engaged at The Gardens on Tuesday but the meeting was washed out,'' Bell explained. "Because Saturday's Wentworth Park nominations were extended from Tuesday to Wednesday, I entered her into the Paws Of Thunder heats.
"She had not been behind the lure for three weeks but Paloma Lago always goes well fresh and when she drew box eight I gave her a little chance.
"Paloma Lago doesn't like being crowded early so is more at home from the eight alley.''
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Australian Bloodstock, the syndication group which won thoroughbred racing's 2014 Melbourne Cup with Protectionist, are set to have a runner in the heats of the Group 1 National Derby at Wentworth Park on January 23.
Their latest canine acquisition, Takedown, won brilliantly at his debut for Australian Bloodstock at Bulli on Friday.
Takedown, trained at Thirlmere by Mark Gatt, won over 472m in a slashing 26.13 and will now line up at Wentworth Park on Saturday night in preparation for his Derby assignment the following week.
"I train Kihael Kaluna for Australian Bloodstock and they asked me to find them another greyhound,'' Gatt explained. "I was impressed with Takedown's Melbourne form so was able to buy him for them.
"After watching his Victorian wins I thought he might have a future as a stayer but at Bulli his sectional times were absolutely 'airborne'.
"Takedown is showing dazzling pace since entering my kennels so I think he is going to be a sprinter, not a long distance dog."
