Bob Merillo thought enough of Bokarm Bear to lift his self-imposed ban on racing at the annual Grafton winter carnival and the greyhound is set to reward him by winning the lucrative Taylor Family Clarence Valley Sheds Maiden Classic (407m) at tonight's meeting.
Bokarm Bear, the fastest qualifier from last week's heats, has drawn ideally in box eight for tonight's $14,000-to the-winner-final and is favourite to give Merillo his biggest success in 43 years in the sport.
Merillo - a retired drinks company sales manager - owns, trains and bred Bokarm Bear, a son of his former handy racer Bokarm Louie.
While Grafton in July invariably draws many of Australia's leading trainers, Merillo says he has usually bypasses the carnival.
"All the good dogs converge on Grafton at this time of year," Merillo said. "I usually dodge them by racing my team at Casino and Lismore at this time, but Bokarm Bear showed so much ability I had to make an exception this year.
"He trialled brilliantly at Lismore on December 7 but hit the running rail at his first start, also at Lismore, six nights later.
"Because I don't race my dogs in January or February, when it gets too hot up here, Bokarm Bear did not reappear until he clocked a blistering 23.01 in a 407m stewards trial at Grafton on June 24.
"That convinced me I owed it to the dog to give him his chance in the Maiden Classic and he won his heat in 23.18, fastest of the seven qualifying races."
Bokarm Bear faces a strong field of promising newcomers in this final, race seven on the card, but Merillo is confident his greyhound can win.
"Bokarm Bear had box seven in his heat so is nicely positioned in box eight in Wednesday's final," Merillo said. " He should jump with them but while he is not a flying machine in the early stages, he musters pace after 20 or 30 metres and is very strong at the finish."
Sydney trainer Chris Carl, whose greyhound Rostered On has the prized rails draw in the Maiden Classic, is resigned to being a placegetter at best.
"My dog took 23.43 to win his heat and with Bokarm Bear perfectly boxed in eight I can't see us beating him," Carl said.
"Rostered On is not as quick as his litter brother and kennelmate Fast Car Driving but that dog was disappointing in his heat, finishing third and failing to reach the final."
Grafton trainer Jim Gallaway has Bennett in box four in Wednesday's feature.
"Bennett, who won his heat in 23.37, is promising but from box four he will need luck," Gallaway said.
Wednesday night's other feature is the Village Green Hotel Sprinters' Cup final with Queensland trainer Darren Russell rugging up two heats winners - Precious Sal and Go Lassie Go.
Precious Sal was fastest heat winner, covering the 407m in 22.87, while Go Lassie Go qualified in 23.09, but Russell believes Go Lassie Go can go faster with a cleaner getaway in the final.
"Go Lassie Go had won 15 of 31 starts before her heat because she is usually a brilliant beginner," Russell said. "She missed the jump in her heat and she seldom does that.
"Precious Sal had won only two of nine starts before the heats and when she clocked the fastest time last Wednesday it was the first time she had come out smartly.
"I would like to see Precious Sal drawn near the rails but boxes don't matter much to Go Lassie Go because she normally comes out running."
Wednesday night's meeting at Grafton is the biggest annual race day for the club and one of the biggest night's on the Northern Rivers racing calendar with $40,000 up for grabs.
Racing kicks off at 6.50pm.
For Grafton Wednesday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
