Cosmic Heir, the Tasmanian sprinter who upset some big local names to win her heat of the PPK Mining Group 2 Maitland Gold Cup (450m) last Thursday, was only brought to NSW as a travelling companion to crack speedster El Grand Amigo.
Patrick Ryan, a 52-year-old trainer from Dilston, Tasmania, set El Grand Amigo for the Cup and disclosed he nominated Cosmic Heir "as a sidekick to his star sprinter.''
"El Grand Amigo is a lot faster than Cosmic Heir but he is still learning," Ryan said.
"While he is a good traveller he is inclined to get too revved up when he gets to the track and can do things wrong.
"But while he lacks stamina to run a strong 520m he has good speed, as does Cosmic Heir.
"She has won 15 of 33 starts but is no superstar, she is a handy greyhound and is also a good traveller.''
Cosmic Heir exited box four and led throughout to win her Maitland Cup heat in 25, not far outside the 24.81 fastest heat won by Queenslander Outside Pass.
But she has drawn awkwardly in box five in the final, with keen railers Wild Walter and Pedro Cerrano outside her in boxes six and seven.
Patrick Ryan became a greyhound trainer as an 18-year-old living in Townsville, inheriting his love of the sport from his late father, Sean.
"Dad trained greyhounds in Ireland and even though I was born here I gravitated quickly towards greyhounds.
"In Queensland I trained a couple of smart ones including Wine Glass, who won Brisbane's 1997 Winter Carnival Cup and Barrio Fiesta, who became the dam of champion sprinter Surf Lorian, winner of the 2004 Peter Mosman Classic at Wentworth Park.
"But when I had a family I shifted to Tasmania where housing was more affordable than it was in Queensland.''
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Wild Walter, the least experienced of Thursday's PPK Mining Group 2 Maitland Gold Cup final lineup, was produced by Takeover Teddy, who cost her owner John Beattie a mere $1500.
And what a goldmine Takeover Teddy has turned out to be, producing Mr Clydesdale, winner of 17 races and $77,000 in stakes, Old Spice, winner of 12 races and $42,000, and now Wild Walter.
Hunter Valley trainer Terry Priest, who prepares Wild Walter on Beattie's behalf, concedes his dog faces a tough task from box six in the Cup final.
"He is desperate for an inside box and had he drawn box one I would have given him a terrific chance.
"But Wild Walter is learning all the time and when he ran down Your Shout Punk, the Maitland Gold Collar winner, to win his heat, he used his head, biding his time and waiting for the rails run to appear.''
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Les Kelly, who trained Miss High Lo, one of the sport's all-time great stayers, has died, aged 80.
Miss High Lo set race records in each of two consecutive Sydney Cup wins at Wentworth Park in 1973 and '74 as well as taking out the 1974 Wentworth Park Gold Cup, while the daughter of Miller's Moss and Sky Gazer was also judged the NSW Greyhound of the Year for 1974.
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Camacho has postponed his retirement indefinitely with a blazing return to form at The Gardens on Friday, scooting over the 400m in 22.97.
The Ron Bell-trained greyhound, who turns four next month, has now won 27 of his 65 races and earned $57,000.
"He has had a few injuries and had been a bit disappointing this campaign,'' Bell said.
"I was thinking he might be ready for retirement but on Friday it was the Camacho of old, he just burst to the lead at box rise.
"I will nominate him for a 330m Masters race at Richmond on Wednesday and I intend to keep looking for these races for him.
"For a short courser Camacho has been a great money-spinner and despite having more than his fair share of setbacks, his winning strike rate is remarkable.''
