Diabetic trainer Bruce Mackie was discharged from Maitland Hospital late Thursday afternoon but still managed to take his greyhound In The Moonlight to the local track to win the Gold Collar Final.
In The Moonlight, who scored her first win at Wentworth Park in November, 2015, was having only her 39th race when she stormed home to win the 400m Gold Collar.
"I will now put her in the Group 2 Maitland Gold Cup heats on April 5 because she is better suited over the 450m of that race than she was in the shorter Gold Collar,'' Mackie said.
"In The Moonlight has been lightly raced because she has had injuries and a seasonal spell but mainly because I have been in and out of hospital.
"I have had three operations this year and when I was discharged last Thursday I was told to go home to bed.
"Instead I dashed home, picked up In The Moonlight, and got to the track to take her to the boxes and see her win the Gold Collar.''
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Pixel Pak's slick win in a Dapto Maiden heat last Thursday night marked an important milestone for the litter whelped by Solar Pak in November, 2015.
Solar Pak had produced 10 pups to the mighty Fernando Bale and Pixel Pak's impressive all-the-way win in a slick 30.13 means every member of the litter has won on a TAB track.
The Solar Pak litter comprise Little Digger, who has won 10 of 20 races, Zagati (6 from 15), Nino De Oro (8 of 23), Off The Leash (6 from 20), Manila Kampyton (5 of 14), Franky Pak and Twenty Tamar (4 from 15 each), Phoenix Pak (4 from 13), Latitude Zero (3 from 13) and now Pixel Pak has won once in two appearances.
They have earned over $131,000 and most of the litter have plenty of racing ahead of them.
The Ray Smith-trained Little Digger is the star of the litter but his sister and kennelmate Zagati is on the comeback trail.
Zagati broke down at Wentworth Park on January 10 but is back in work and Smith expects her to make a successful return to the track.
Ken Burnett, whose partner Amanda Brunton trains Thursday's maiden winner Pixel Pak, said: "This greyhound has always had plenty of ability but bad luck has prevented her racing until recently.
"She dropped a pin muscle in one shoulder, then when Amanda got that right the other pin muscle went.
"After all that Pixel Pak came in season but she is going extra well now and things are looking up.
"Phoenix Pak fracured a hock at Wentworth Park on January 17 but has come back really well and trialled a very quick 22.48 over 400m at Bulli last week.
"I am really pleased for the litter's breeder Barry Ward, the former Bulldogs first grade forward who is now on Canterbury's Leagues Club Board, because he has poured a lot of money into our sport.
"It is phenomenal for a large, entire litter to all win on the TAB circuit, and in smart times as well.''
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Zipping Kelly, a recent addition to the Llandilo kennels of Jodie Lagogiane, staged an amazing performance to win a 515m Launching Pad Consolation at Sandown on Thursday night.
Owned by western Sydney breeder Dawn Garrett, Zipping Kelly was last at the first turn and gave the leaders around 10 lengths' start with just over 200m left to run.
The greyhound flashed along the rails to win in a tidy 29.78, and looks sure to be better suited over a longer trip.
Zipping Kelly finished second to Jason Mackay's exciting middle distance performer Zipping Potter over 618m at Richmond on March 2 and a week later was third to National Derby winner Big Daddy Bee in a similar event.
