Bligh Park hobby trainer Brad Barber has been painting houses for 26 years but when he was contracted to complete a job in late 2014 for electrical wholesaler Darrell Smith he wound up securing his best greyhound.
Billysoar, who has had four wins and eight seconds at Wentworth Park with seven wins and six seconds on other tracks, had been bred and was owned by Smith, a long time owner and breeder.
"While I was painting his house we became friends and Darrell asked me if I was interested in training Billysoar and his litter brother Direct Joel, which he had bred from Direct Jolie,'' Barber recalled. "Because I finally established my own business 18 years ago I work long hours so can only afford to have a couple of dogs in work, and apart from Darrell's pair my only other racer at present is Rainmaker Lass.''
There is not a wider runner in training than Billysoar, who Barber rates as clearly the fastest dog he has trained.
"I have tried every thing to try and get him to rail a little better but nothing works.
"Using different methods of strapping have not only had no effect, but when I tested him in trials with strapping he has gone terribly, running shocking times.
"It seems he can only race well and be competitive when he is left to his own devices.
"Billysoar is his own little man, a small 28kg dog who would be an extremely handy greyhound if it wasn't for his tendency to run around near the outside of the track.''
The modest Barber concedes he would not have had a great deal of success without the constant advice of rival trainers Owen Langley and Justin King, his trio of greyhounds have a fine record.
"I can't thank them enough as they have taught me how to get the best out of an animal,'' Barber said.
"My family's pet dog is 14 years old Staffordshire terrier and he has remained healthy for so long through what I have learned about caring for animals from Owen and Justin.''
Apart from Billysoar, each of Barber's other present 'team' has won at Wentworth Park, with one of Direct Joel's four wins being at headquarters and Rainmaker Lass having annexed two metropolitan victories among her six successes from 21 starts.
Barber hit the ground running as an owner in 2005 when he and a friend purchased Winsome Best from famous trainer John Finn.
"Winsome Best was a terrific dog and won at his first start for us over 515m at Bulli in March, 2005, clocking 29.01 when the track record was 28.92,'' Barber recalled. "In his first four starts at Wentworth Park in June and July of that year he had two wins, a second and a third.
"Winsome Best was also first reserve in both the Woy Woy Poultry Gold Cup at Gosford and in the 2005 Wentworth Park Young Star Classic finals, which John Finn won with our dog's litter brother Just Winsome.
"I did not commence training until 2007 when a friend, Simon Moore, asked me to take one of his greyhounds, Miss Grange.
"Simon admitted I was unlikely to win a race with her but reckoned I might have a bit of fun along the way and he knew I had been considering becoming a hobby trainer.
"Miss Grange finished second at Lithgow at her first start for me but then won four of her next six races, three at Lithgow and my first TAB track win, at Dapto in October, 2007."
Like many trainers, Barber said his biggest thrill was training his first Wentworth Park winner.
"I won the first race on a National Derby night in January, 2014, with Mirror Man Mitch," he said. "He was owned by Brett Turner and named after a mate who enjoyed looking at himself in the mirror.
"We had submitted Pretty Boy Mitch as first choice name but finished up with Mirror Man Mitch and what a buzz he gave me to not only win in town but to do it on one of the biggest Wentworth Park nights of the year.''
Barber's favourite course is his local track, Richmond, but adds: "I don't mind racing at Wentworth Park either because that's where the money is.
"Brett Lee was a bit before my time but from videos I've seen of his races he must have been something really special.
"So without question the best I have seen in action was the recently retired Fernando Bale, he was the complete greyhound.''
