Remarkable comeback almost complete

By Jeff Collerson

Debt Cutter will complete a remarkable comeback if he takes out Thursday's Business Houses Challenge final at Maitland.

Trained at Wyoming, near Gosford, by John Byrne, Debt Cutter goes into the race as fastest qualifier and will be a warm favourite after drawing box one.

In last week's heats Debt Cutter covered the 450m in 25.20sec, with the other qualifying races taken out by Fly High Billy in 25.27sec and Rippa Regis in 25.34sec.

"Debt Cutter has only recently returned after being sidelined for seven months following a mishap after a race at Maitland,'' trainer John Byrne said.

"He finished second but after the race he was knocked over and the fall caused him to suffer kidney failure.

"My veterinary surgeon had Debt Cutter on a drip for a week so it's amazing to see him not only come back but to be going so well.

"Because of what happened I have to look after him and limit his racing to one start a week.

"Debt Cutter broke the record at Redhead trial track, clocking 15.46sec, when I brought him back into training and since then he has had eight starts for four wins, three seconds and a third.''

Byrne, 60, bought his first greyhound at 21 but concedes he could not participate in the sport these days if it were not for his wife Amanda.

"My work hours rotate between day and night shifts so Amanda, even though she also works full-time, often has to exercise and feed our greyhounds.

"I plan to bring Debt Cutter to Wentworth Park shortly but with Gosford reopening soon that will make life a lot easier for us and obviously he will be racing there.''

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Scientific Man returns to racing at Goulburn on Thursday to begin a campaign aimed at winning the Goulburn Cup.

His owner-trainer Mark Wilcox has won the Southern Highlands' biggest race twice, with Natural Player and Knocka's Return, and is bringing their half-brother Scientific Man back in a 350m race on Thursday.

"He has been out of action with a split webbing so I nominated for the short race as a way of getting him ready for the 440m Cup heats on November 27,'' Wilcox said.

"Scientific Man has trialled a flying 19.60sec over Thursday's 350m trip at Goulburn but box eight is a worry this week as he is a dead-set box one dog.

"I am also setting Cosmic Blend and Burning Fuel for the Goulburn Cup, although Burning Fuel is not a fast beginner so might find it tough.

"Still, my wife reminded me that Knocka's Return was a similar type of greyhound and he managed to win a Cup final.''

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Hardaway Harada, whose record stands at an imposing nine starts for seven wins, a second and third, will also be on trial for a Goulburn Cup start when he clashes with Scientific Man on Thursday.

"At this stage I'm not sure whether I will be entering Hardaway Harada for the 440m Cup or for a 350m support event on the day of the final,'' trainer Ron Marsden said.

Hardaway Harada's giant litter brother, the 39kg Hardaway Titan, steps out for the second time when he exits box eight in a 350m mixed stakes at Goulburn on Thursday.

"Hardaway Titan won first-up over 400m at Bulli on October 27, clocking a smart 22.40sec,'' Marsden said.

"He actually broke in a bit quicker than Hardaway Harada but he took longer to get to the races because he is so big.

"Although he had box one at Bulli I believe Hardaway Titan is ideally positioned in box eight this week at Goulburn.''