Life has thrown Bruce King and his family some huge challenges – but Saturday night's Group 1 Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg might bring the sweetest payback of all.
The stalwart trainer (pictured), from Cambridge Park in Sydney’s west, rugs up standout chance Mack Tux (box one) in the $250,000-to-the-winner race at Wentworth Park.
This is the race of a lifetime for 71-year-old King, who started training about 40 years ago but stopped for several years to help nurse his beloved wife Janice through breast cancer.
King now has a big chance to win NSW’s biggest race of the year – and has his number one supporter by his side to cheer him on.
“When Janice got the five-year clearance, we decided to get back into the greyhounds,” he said.
“Now we’re in a Golden Easter Egg final. Janice is so excited – so is my whole family. One of my sons is bringing a minibus with 40 people to watch the race.
“I went trialling at Richmond this week and everyone was shaking my hand – it was wonderful.
“I’m being the miserable one of the family as I’m trying to keep calm. Trust me, though – if we win on Saturday night, I’ll be excited.”
Mack Tux, a lightning-fast beginner, he has so far built the formidable record of 12 wins and 11 minor placings from 28 starts.
He has been in terrific form in the Golden Easter Egg series, scoring a very impressive win in his heat before OVERcoming a poor start in his semi-final to dig deep and register a hard-fought win.
Mack Tux is the leading NSW chance on Saturday night in a race dominated by class Victorians, including Up Hill Jill (box two) and Striker Light (box seven).
While the Victorians dominate the betting, King is quietly confident about his greyhound’s chances.
“OVER this last month or so he’s shown how he wants to win,” King said. “He was fifth at the first turn last Saturday night, but the way he made it to the front was brilliant.
“Hopefully he can win it for NSW.”
This year's Golden Easter Egg, promises to be an absolute cracker.
Lucky Chap (box three), Big Flood (box four), Slamming Thunder in box five, Aqua Cheetah (box six) and Lagoon Jazzy in box eight complete the line-up.
The Group 1 Golden Easter Egg is the highlight of a cracking card of racing on at Wentworth Park this evening, with the first race jumping at 7.28pm and the feature at 9.35pm.
For more on Saturday's Easter Egg, click here.
For Wentworth Park Saturday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
