In what was a thrilling finish, neither the race commentator nor Canowindra trainer Paul Britt thought Lochinvar Zara had won the Greyhound Racing NSW Pathways Stakes (307 metres) at Kennerson Park on Monday afternoon.
Players Key ($18) had led from the outset but was just pipped before the finish line, losing by a nose to race favourite Lochinvar Zara ($2.50).
The two-year-old black bitch had come back in the field to challenge Players Key’s lead and never gave up to push ahead for the win at the post.
Supercity Star ($9) finished third for Ryde trainer and owner Jonathan Gatt.
Britt said the 307 metres distance suits his dog. “She’s a dog that we’ll keep fresh, keep her at the short distance. We tried to work her a bit at longer distances,” he said. “I thought she ran second. I was a bit surprised when they said she won.
“The steward said, ‘It must be close,’ because it took a while for [the photo] to come down. It usually just comes straight through.
“Paul and Beverley Bermingham own her. Paul helps me a lot with my dogs, so it’s good to see him get a win today. It’s the only dog I train outside of my own.”
Britt described Lochinvar Zara as being easy to train albeit a little erratic in the kennel and being quite a “barker.”
It was her third career win from 17 career starts. All of her successes to date have occurred at Kennerson Park.
Britt plans to bring Lochinvar Zara back to Bathurst next week, at the same distance.
* This article originally appeared in the Western Advocate - photo credit: Phil Batch
