Carol and Les Hudson, who bred and had great early success owning and training Black Magic Opal, now have a pair of highly promising youngsters closely related to their former champion sprinter.
Viva Opal, a daughter of Black Magic Opal's litter sister Glamorous Opal, powered home to score an impressive win in a 450m maiden at Maitland last Thursday
On the same day Viva Opal's litter brother Black Jack Opal was an unlucky second in the Future Stars Final after being checked when in a winning position at the first turn.
Black Magic Opal registered a remarkably consistent 13 wins and four seconds in his first 17 starts for the Budgewoi-based Hudsons, before being sold to Victorian trainer Jason Thompson.
Now standing at stud, Black Magic Opal went on to compile an extraordinary record of 35 wins from 48 races while his "baby'' sister Glamorous Opal was no slouch for the Hudsons,
incorporating a Wentworth Park win among her 13 racetrack victories.
"Black Jack Opal and Viva Opal have each had a win and a placing from two starts apiece and it won't be long before we are headed to Wentworth Park with them,'' Les Hudson said.
"Black Jack Opal is slightly quicker but we think Viva Opal is stronger and will get the 520m at Wenty more solidly.
"When we had Black Magic Opal his kennel name was Max and because Black Jack Opal is an absolute replica of his famous uncle, we gave him the same pet name."
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Glamorous Opal's initial litter also includes Chimbu Park, raced and trained by Wendy and John Brown, the Hudson family's closest friends.
Chimbu Park has had four starts for two wins and two seconds giving the Barcia Bale-Glamorous Opal a 100 per cent winning record.
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Diane SKINNER, the 72-year-old Abermain trainer who landed a 400m race at The Gardens on Friday with Blixt, has had greyhounds for 50 years - not surprising considering her "pedigree.''
SKINNER, who trains greyhounds with her 84-year-old husband Merv, is the daughter of the late Jean and Bert Johnson, who owned and trained the former champion stayer Blue Autumn and her almost as talented litter sister Scuff.
Blue Autumn was the inaugural NSW Greyhound of the Year award winner in 1965 although Scuff became the better producer, with her son Beau Brin taking out the 1969 Paws Of Thunder while still a maiden performer.
Blixt, the SKINNERs' Friday winner, is named after crack golfer Jonas Blixt and is a son of Lady In Black, a prolific winner and litter sister to Black Magic Opal and Glamorous Opal.
"We bought Lady In Black as a puppy from Carol and Les Hudson and like her sister Glamorous Opal, she is already producing winners,'' Diane SKINNER said.
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Barry Burnet, who began training greyhounds 38 years ago while he and his late wife Kerry were licensees of a hotel at suburban Annandale, landed a winner at Dapto on Thursday night when Irish Ledgen scored over 520m in a slick 30.01.
Unfortunately Burnet missed the race as he is recuperating in Wollongong Hospital following a serious spine operation.
"My good friend Sandra Clissold handled Irish Ledgen for me and while the dog has won only three races he has a bit of ability,'' Burnet said from his hospital bed.
"His problem is he simply cannot handle outside boxes at all and he has had a sequence of wide draws.
"I have been in hospital for three weeks and while I had been hoping to watch Irish Ledgen's Dapto race on television I fell asleep while waiting for the late race to be run and missed it!''
