John Beattie has bred a swag of top class greyhounds but when the curiously named Wild Torn Blazer led throughout at Wentworth Park on Wednesday night he gave his breeder his first city winner as an owner.
"John is a genius at breeding good greyhounds but unfortunately has always found a way to sell the best ones,'' Wild Torn Blazer's trainer Terry Priest said.
"Among the dogs John has bred is Old Spice, who won a Group 1 Brisbane Cup heat for me on November 26, Mister Cowora, who is unbeaten in three starts for Jimmy McGlinn, and Mr Clydesdale, who won 17 races and was a top grader at Wenty for John's great mate Bob McColm.
"John Beattie and Bob McColm grew up in Balmain with the famous swimmer Dawn Fraser, and at the height of Dawn's great career there was a send-up radio show about her called Torn Blazer.
"The show used to annoy Dawn so John Beattie gave the name Wild Torn Blazer to this greyhound.
"Wild Torn Blazer has always been skittish and stand off-ish but is only just maturing and showed he has potential with his win on Wednesday.
"While he won comfortably from box eight I believe he will be a better greyhound at Wentworth Park from an inside draw.''
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Trainer Dean Swain reckons next month's New Sensation, held during the Wentworth Park Golden Easter Egg carnival, has been "tailor made'' for his smart sprinter Tilly's Boy.
"Tilly's Boy was born on November 19, 2013, and the New Sensation is for greyhounds whelped on or after November 11,'' Swain said.
"Not only that, because the race is also restricted to winners of no more than 10 races from a maximum of 20 starts, Tilly's Boy also fits ideally into that criteria.
"He has won eight races from 19 starts so I can only afford to nominate him once more before the New Sensation entries close.
"But that won't matter because Tilly's Boy is flying at the moment, he is jumping out of his skin.
"He has had one run back from a spell and I'll give him sufficient trials to have him ready for the New Sensation.
"I'd love to see Tilly's Boy draw out wide in the New Sensation heats because he goes really well at Wenty.''
Tilly's Boy has had three wins, three seconds and a third from nine WP appearances so will be among the most experienced New Sensation starters.
Swain is currently toasting the birth of seven puppies by his 2015 Richmond Oaks winner Rue De Kahn, sired by the immortal Fernando Bale.
And Push It, who had 11 wins, 11 seconds and four thirds from 39 outings when trained by Swain, has also become a mum, whelping a litter to Where's Pedro.
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Another former top race bitch about to join the motherhood circle is Lucy Lobster, winner of the 2014 group one Vic Peters Classic final at Wentworth Park.
Lucy Lobster, who won 12 of just 24 starts, is due to whelp in five weeks to Fernando Bale.
While the Charlie Lamb-trained Lucy Lobster was a brilliant racer, her breeding suggests she will an equally fine producer.
Lucy Lobster is by Brett Lee, one of the greatest sprinters of all time, from One Tree Hill, a Group 1 winner when trained for Lamb by Robbie Britton.
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Flash Earner, who has won nine of 37 starts, is on the comeback trail.
The greyhound has been sidelined due to a lengthy seasonal spell and has not raced since October 3 but trainer Shayne Fleming believes she will be ready to win races again in a fortnight.
In three Wentworth Park wins when last in training, Flash Earner clocked 29.91, 29.93 and 29.94, a remarkably consistent achievement.
