A bond formed between successful Hunter Valley greyhound racing identities Jody and Michael Manuel as well as Jimmy McGlinn has resulted in the 85-year-old trainer having Ima Chevey in Tuesday night's Gosford Goldmine final with Ima Chevey.
Ima Chevey is the second greyhound the Manuels have presented to McGlinn as a gift, with the first, Chevy Miss, returned to the couple when the trainer began a lengthy battle with bowel cancer.
“When Jody and Michael got into the sport they knew nobody but I got to know them and began assisting them with their greyhounds,” McGlinn recalled.
“I helped them educate one of their first smart greyhounds, Chevy Miss, and to thank me they gave her to me. But when I contracted bowel cancer four years ago my future looked pretty bleak so I signed her back over to Jody and Michael.
“Later they bred a litter from Chevy Miss and when one of those offspring, Gifted Chevy, later became a mother herself, the Manuels told me I could have the pick of her pups as another gift.
“Ima Chevey is the one I selected and while he is a handy dog with his tenacity as a chaser his big asset. He went wrong going through the pen two starts back so went into his heat nice and fresh.
“I had only been free galloping him in the lead-up to the heats so he might have some improvement in him.”
Ima Chevey has won five of 15 starts for McGlinn, who is now in his 65th year as a trainer.
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Falcon's Fury may be having a spell, but the champion greyhound’s Pam and Paul Braddon still have a wealth of talent in their Cowra kennels.
Paul with Little Cindy at Wentworth Park on Wednesday night and along with Pam landed a winning double 24 hours later at Dubbo.
Little Cindy's sister Spring Jazz led throughout over 516m in a quick 29.86 while Marbo's Magic, back home after a successful stint with Anthony Azzopardi in Melbourne, won over 400m.
Marbo's Magic was second early but was soon in control, clocking a smart 22.93 in posting his 20th win in just 34 appearances.
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Peter Akers' brilliant front-runner Leggy Blonde has been retired.
Leggy Blonde scored her 20th win at start number 80 at Gosford last Tuesday night but the morning after she blitzed her opponents in a 400m event she came in season.
“She could not quite get the 520m at Wenty last preparation but I was confident she had come back a bit stronger this time,” Akers said.
“Just as I was contemplating taking her back to WP to try and pinch a race there Leggy Blonde indicated she wants to become a mother. So she has been retired and will be mated with Magic Sprite.”
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Mark Bell has a hot prospect in Miss Wing Wong, who is one of the first 2016 whelpings to salute the judge.
Miss Wing Wong, born in January last year, won a performance trial at Dapto in 30.08 before spearing out of box four to lead throughout in a 520m maiden heat at that track on Thursday.
Her 30.25 performance makes her the fastest qualifier for this Thursday's final and if she draws the rails she can improve on her heat time.
Miss Wing Wong crossed sharply to the inside rail when the boxes lifted in her heat, virtually scraping the paint all the way.
