Nobody in greyhound racing was more relieved than Central Coast trainer Susan Pitstock after her dog Gun Keroma scored a runaway win in near record time over 400m at Maitland on Thursday.
Having his first start in over five months, Gun Keroma led throughout, stopping the clock at a seldom matched 22.06.
"He has always been fast but has been the unluckiest dog we have had,'' Susan's husband Ray said.
"Gun Keroma was going brilliantly early in his career but cracked a hock, then he fell twice in races at Gosford.
"After we brought him back to trialled 22.60 over 400m at Gosford but caught the lure and when that happened he tore a hole in his stomach.
"This preparation Susan decided not to trial him but to put him into a race and he went like a rocket on Thursday.
"The best part was that Gun Keroma not only won but got around safely and pulled up in fine order.''
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Shallay Pallay, whose antics robbed trainer Jodie Lagogiane of her first group one win by racing erratically in the Ladbokes Vic Peters Classic on November 4, will do his future racing in NEW ZEALAND.
Shallay Pallay appeared to have the Wentworth Park final at his mercy when he effortlessly ranged up to pacemaker Allonsy Grace leaving the back straight.
But much to the chagrin of punters and especially his connections, Shallay Pallay veered out and made contact with Allonsy Grace, presenting the ultimate winner Crash Bandicoot with a dream rails run.
Stewards banned Shallay Pallay from racing at Wentworth Park for 28 days for the marring offence, but he is unlikely to be seen racing in Sydney any time soon.
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Christine Proctor has been enjoying a successful 2017 with 31 Wentworth Park winners, but the trainer's luck has soured with injuries to the stars of her kennel, Bekin Street and Chevy King, winner of the Group 3 New Sensation in April.
Bekin Street, who took out this year's NSW Sprint Championship, broke down in the Vic Peters Classic on November 4 while Chevy King was lame after a dashing all-the-way win at Wentworth Park a week later.
"Bekin Street will be sidelined for six to seven weeks but Chevy King could be ready to start running on our straight track in a couple of weeks,'' Proctor's husband Alan said.
"Chevy King could not put his foot to the ground after his last start win, maybe he just went too hard in his race.
"Even the next morning he was still very proppy on the leg but he has got a lot better.
"It was scary because for a while there we thought he might be finished as a racing proposition.''
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Londonderry owner-trainer Frank Hurst was handing out cigars at Wentworth Park on Wednesday night with his two former brilliant speedsters Good Odds Regina and Good Odds Angel having become breeders 24 hours earlier.
Good Odds Regina, winner of 13 races, whelped a litter of pups to Fabregas while on the same day Good Odds Angel, this year's "queen of Wentworth Park'' was mated with Collision.
Good Odds Angel compiled a remarkable record, registering 25 wins from 83 races with 14 victories at Wentworth Park, most in top grade and gained by running her rivals off their legs in the early stages.
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When outsider Irinka Sneaky led throughout in a 4/5th grade at Wentworth Park (520m) on Wednesday night he left kennelmate and hot favourite Little Digger in his wake, back in fourth place.
Little Digger ruined his chances by stumbling at the start and being hampered at the first turn and later Raymond Smith, who trains the pair, confirmed that Irinka Sneaky was "much slower'' than his kennelmate.
"Little Digger is half a second faster,'' Smith said.
"While Irinka Sneaky does have early pace he is only a battler compared with Little Digger.
"Although Irinka Sneaky was having his first race at Wentworth Park on Wednesday he did trial 30.58 there on a slow track so I wasn't too surprised when he was able to win in 30.38 on Wednesday when he jumped in front.
