Promising sprinter Big Rex Muldoon gave Peter Laurantus a timely 72nd birthday present with his win in a heat of the In House Challenge at Maitland last Thursday.
Big Rex Muldoon won over 400m in 22.40, which was the fastest time of the day and put the greyhound well in the running for this Thursday's 5th grade final.
The greyhound is trained by Laurantus' wife Julie, who also prepares Big Rex Muldoon's litter brother Digger Muldoon, another fastest time of the day at his most recent start, which was also at Maitland.
“Big Rex Muldoon won 24 hours before I celebrated my birthday so it was a nice present,” Peter, a retired motor mechanic, said.
“I have had greyhounds for 56 years and Julie and I breed, rear and train at Gloucester, 80km inland from Taree.
“As a 17-year-old I was virtually adopted by the late Les Griffin, who owned outstanding greyhounds like Biscuit Muldoon and Red Muldoon.
“When he died Les, who had no children, left all his greyhounds to me, so I retained the 'Muldoon' name for our greyhounds, which Julie and I have registered. We won a Country Championship around 15 years ago at Wentworth Park with Erasmus Too, and hope to get Big Rex Muldoon and Digger Muldoon to town shortly.”
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Lagoon Jazzy was beaten in a tight photo finish in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg but her dam Lagoon Lowanna's offspring from her next litter could be even better.
Lagoon Jazzy is by Barcia Bale and out of Lagooon Lowanna, however, the latest litter from Cosmic Rumble and Lagoon Lowanna has hit the ground running with some very good results.
A greyhound from the Cosmic Rumble litter - Lagoon Rhett - was unbeaten in two Bulli races before contesting a heat of the Group 1 Peter Mosman Classic on Saturday night in which he finished fifth. His littermates, Lagoon Prissy and Lagoon Pirate, meanwhile landed the quinella in Thursday's Dapto Maiden Final.
The Ray and Sharron Webster-trained greyhounds went neck and neck for the first 250m before Lagoon Prissy drew clear to upset her more favoured brother.
“A month ago Lagoon Pirate was definitely quicker,” Ray Webster said.
“But Lagoon Prissy was simply slower in maturing and it has all clicked in for her now. I don't think we will see the best of her until she goes over a slightly longer distance than 520 metres.”
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Mr. Pupparazzi, named by owner-trainer Charlie Riccio in honour of his dear friend, the late George Cliff, opened his account in dashing style at Richmond last Wednesday.
Having only his second start, Mr. Pupparazzi led throughout over 535m to win by a dozen lengths in 30.64, which was easily the fastest time of the meeting.
“At his only previous start Mr. Pupparazzi had finished third at Bulli but he is not really suited to that sort of track, he is better on two turn circuits like Richmond and hopefully, later on, by Wentworth Park,” Riccio said.
“George Cliff was a greyhound owner and breeder who for many years filled a page in the Greyhound Recorder newspaper with his action photographs from different tracks. The page was headed Pupparazzi so after he passed away I vowed to name a smart greyhound after him.”
