Trainer Michael Eberand has resisted the temptation to nominate his promising stayer Ebby Ripper for Saturday night's heats of the Group 3 Wentworth Park Summer Cup (720m).
Ebby Ripper was most impressive in winning first-up over the WP 720m trip last Monday night, coming from fourth early to win by over five lengths in a handy 42.85.
"She is only 21 months old so is a bit young to be taking on group stayers,'' Eberand said.
"There is a 720m race at Wentworth Park on Wednesday for greyhounds with one to three wins so I will nominate for that event.
"Providing she goes as well as I expect her to I will then have a couple of weeks to get Ebby Ripper ready for the Newcastle Cup.''
The Newcastle Cup, a Listed race over the 715m, takes place on Friday, December 16.
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It was fitting that Savanaka Two posted 25.26, the fastest time in last Thursday's heats of the Chadford Lodge Christmas Gift at Maitland.
Savanaka Two, who had not previously seen the Maitland track before his all the way heat win, is trained John Callaughan for 78-year-old Frank Payne, who has been enduring a long battle with cancer.
Johnny Munro, proprietor of the Maitland race's sponsor Chadford Lodge, has been a stalwart of the sport for over 60 years while Payne, Savanaka Two's owner, was training greyhounds in the 1950s.
John Callaughan believes the 21 months old Savanaka Two has a bright future.
"Frank has been seriously ill for some time and bought Savanaka Two because he was determined to see a greyhound he owns win a race before he passed away,'' Callaughan said. "Thankfully Savanaka Two won first up for Frank at Bulli.
"Unfortunately he was readmitted to hospital last Thursday so wasn't able to get to Maitland to watch his dog's all-the-way heat win.
"Frank is a marvellous bloke and when I trialled Savanaka Two at Wentworth Park a couple of weeks back he caught a bus from his inner city home to see his dog in action.''
Chadford Lodge has been a long time sponsor of the Maitland Christmas Gift with the property named after proprietor Johnny Munro's former CESSNOCK and Albury track record holder.
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Terry Priest's wonderful warrior Old Spice is edging towards the end of a fine career but the Hunter Valley trainer has a couple of worthy replacements in Wild Walter and Wild Jimmy, who each won at Maitland last Thursday.
Wild Walter led throughout to win the Monthly Medal Final, covering the 450m in a fast 25.07sec, while Wild Jimmy was beaten for early pace but overpowered his rivals in the straight to win a 450m heat of the Chadford Lodge Christmas Gift in 25.29sec.
"This pair are sons of Takeover Teddy, who was a great producer and was the dam of Mr Clydesdale and Old Spice,'' Priest said.
"Takeover Teddy's owner John Beattie sold Mr Clydesdale and Old Spice as pups but he decided to retain this latest litter, sired by Magic Sprite, for himself.
"They were born when Takeover Teddy was 10 years old and at this early stage Wild Walter and Wild Jimmy are showing more potential at the same age than Mr Clydesdale and Old Spice.''
That's high praise indeed as Mr Clydesdale won 17 races and earned $77,000 for owner-trainer Bob McColm while Old Spice, trained by Terry Priest, won 11 races and $40,000 prizemoney.
"Old Spice has just resumed racing and is going quite well but because he is four years old I intend seeking out Masters races for him,'' Priest added.
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