Donna Campbell has 25,000 reasons to be grateful she was wrong about Tiempo Dinero.
The Wollondilly trainer has scored her first Group win as a mentor, with her giant greyhound producing a terrific come-from-behind run to win the Group 3 Ladbrokes Nowra Summer Puppy Classic (520m).
Tiempo Dinero, the $3.30 second favourite and one of three contenders for Campbell in the final, was three lengths behind leader Tiny Terror ($7.30) midway round but powered home to win in a thrilling finish.
Campbell was delighted at winning the $25,000 top prize - but admitted that Tiempo Dinero would have missed the series if she had earlier had her way.
"Whenever we trialled him here (before the series) he went terrible," she said.
"After one trial I chatted to the owner and said, 'pull his nomination'. I actually rang the club, but it was too late - he was entered.
"He also had box five in his heat, so he's done it very tough in this series.
"It just shows that you just never know what will happen in greyhound racing."
Tiny Terror, trained by western Sydney-based mentor Cheryl Betts, looked to have the race in her grasp midway round, but seemed to tire late on.
Tiempo Dinero, which means Time Money in Spanish, took advantage, surging home down the finishing straight to salute by three lengths.
Local star Panel Beater ($6.20), trained by Nowra Hill's Garry Edwards, recovered from a poor start to claim third.
Big Black, another of Campbell's hopefuls who started as the $2.70 favourite, couldn't get into the race and finished eighth.
Campbell is now plotting a course for further success for highly promising Tiempo Dinero, whose career record now stands at six wins and three minor placing from 10 starts.
"I think he'll like Bulli," Campbell said. "I can see him being a really good greyhound over the 515 metres there.
"I know the owners would like to see him at Wentworth Park but he might need a bit more experience first.
"We might have a look at some of the races in Melbourne for him too. If you have a handy greyhound, you've got to be prepared to travel.
"He is 40 kilos and turns corners like a steam train, but he's good."
It was also the biggest win so far for Campbell, who was introduced to greyhounds as a child.
"I used to go to the dogs with my dad as kid," she said. "I've pottered around with them over the years, but I only started taking it seriously when we moved to a four-acre spot at Belimbla Park a few years ago.
"This is the first time I've had a team of good, young greyhounds for myself.
"All the owners I work with are brilliant. Usually some of the smaller trainers like myself don't get chance to work with good greyhounds like (Tiempo Dinero) - I can't thank them enough.
"It's a brilliant feeling to win a race like this."
