Frank Daros, who threw away certain selection in Italy's 1960 Rome Olympics cycling team through turning professional, was in the winning list as a greyhound trainer when Grand Izmir scored at Bulli on Saturday night.
Grand Izmir, just out of maiden class via a success at Goulburn, recorded a powerful come-from-behind win at Bulli.
Daros has been quiet since winning seven races with Super's Son in 2013 and 2014 while his most recent Wentworth Park winner was the top class bitch Trendy Tia, whose win there in February, 2014, was among her 18 victories.
"Because there was big money in bike racing in Europe I yielded to the temptation of turning professional on the eve of the Rome Olympics,'' Daros recalled.
"But two years later my brother migrated to Australia and much to my father Attilio's dismay, I followed him.
"My dad was a successful builder in Treviso, 40km from Venice, and had expected me to take over the business when he retired.
"I had intended to become a professional cycle racer in Australia but soon discovered there was no worthwhile money in that sport here so instead became a greyhound trainer.
"My first city winners were Cardigan Rose, at Wentworth Park in 1972, and Colorado Miss, at Harold Park the same year.
"Closest I have come to winning a group race was when Golden Jedda was runner-up to Stormy Opera in the 1994 Ladies Bracelet at Wentworth Park.''
