Gary Eslick, a boilermaker from Berkeley on the NSW South Coast, is a rookie owner-trainer but has qualified with Mcdiesel in Thursday night's $8000-to-the-winner Dapto Puppy Auction Final.
Eslick, who races Mcdiesel in partnership with his son Blake Gatt, bought his first greyhound, Mcdiesel, for only $1000 at the Dapto sales.
Mcdiesel began brilliantly to lead throughout in his 297m heat last Thursday, holding on to defeat hot favourite Mellcat Lass in 17.11.
"He doesn't always come out like a rocket as he did in his heat but obviously I'm hoping he can do the same in the final,'' Eslick said.
Fastest heat winner was the Jason Magri-trained Master Gambler, who railed underneath the unlucky Go Good Riddance in the run to the first turn before winning easily in 16.90.
Sydney owner-breeder Diane Stollery, who won the corresponding final last year with the Christine Oldfield-trained Sokyo, revealed that Master Gambler had trialled a blistering 16.79 on the eve of his Dapto heat.
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Southern Highlands trainer John Mellon has litter sisters Mellcat Lass and Mellcat Miss in Thursday's Dapto final, but rates the former as clearly his best chance.
Mellcat Lass was beaten just under a length by Mcdiesel in her heat while Mellcat Miss finished a distant third to Master Gambler and Go Good Riddance.
"Inexperience beat Mellcat Lass in the heat,'' Mellon said. "She was having her first start in a race after clocking 16.98 in a performance trial at Dapto but despite drawing the rails box she veered left at the start,'' Mellon said.
"By doing that she let the winner get a big break on her but I was happy with the way she got to the line and if Mellcat Lass draws box one again I think she will have learned by the experience and will make full use of the inside alley.
"Mellcat Lass is very smart and I expect good things from her as she is a daughter of Miss Tandur, whose previous litter included Wentworth Park winners Mellcat Magic and Rocket's Mum.''
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Triple Group race winner and former Goulburn 440m track record holder Black Bear Lee has been retired to stud after suffering a career ending injury.
Black Bear Lee tailed off in Shima Song's race at Wentworth Park on January 7 and was later found to have sustained a torn hind leg muscle.
The winner of the Wentworth Park Magic Maiden and Christmas Gift finals, along with the Bulli Gold Cup, Black Bear had been "flying'' in trials leading up to the Wentworth Park race.
"I trialled him after the last race at Nowra five days earlier and he clocked 20.37sec for the 365m, just outside the track record,'' trainer Ruth Matic said. "After that I was confident of him winning at Wentworth Park and when he failed to beat one home I knew something had gone seriously amiss.
"Black Bear Lee will stand at stud at my kennels at Canyonleigh and service fees will be by negotiation.
"He is already registered as a stud dog and has sired a litter, from my brood bitch My Sweet Love, which are 12 months old this month.''
Black Bear Lee retires with a record of 52 starts for 21 wins and 16 placings while he won 15 of his 34 Wentworth Park races, earning a total of just on $185,000.
