MRS Emgrand lived up to her superb pedigree when she scored a runaway first-up long-distance win at Wentworth Park on Wednesday night.
The Luke Azzopardi-trained bitch, who went into the low grade 720m without the benefit of even a middle distance race, ran her rivals ragged to lead throughout and win by just on 10 lengths in 42.28sec, outstanding time for a rookie stayer.
Most form analysts had been surprised to see Mrs Emgrand, just 21 months of age and the "veteran'' of only five sprint races, nominated for a 720m event at headquarters.
But Azzopardi was always confident she could stay, pointing out that Mrs Emgrand is a grand-daughter of the mighty Miata, one of Australia's all-time long-distance champions.
Miata (pictured) won 42 of 51 races between 2011 and 2013 and is the mother of Rossy Emgrand, dam of Mrs Emgrand.
Rossy Emgrand was unraced and unfortunately for Azzopardi, who trained her, she has passed away since producing Mrs Emgrand.
After Wednesday's Wentworth Park win Azzopardi said: "I gave Mrs Emgrand a couple of 600m trials before tonight and she went well enough and produced run-home times that indicated to me she would get the 720 metres.
"Although she won a 520m maiden at Wenty in a blistering 29.97sec Mrs Emgrand just doesn't have enough early speed to be competitive as a sprinter.
"Her litter brother Emgrand Park, who finished fourth in a 520m race at WP tonight and has won four sprints at the provincials, is also destined for a career as a stayer.
"When I trial them together, Emgrand Park invariably beats Mrs Emgrand, yet at present he can't win a race.
"He too lacks the early zip to be competitive in shorter races so he will be going over a middle distance shortly.''
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NO trainer with a finalist in tonight's Orange Cup at Bathurst has more "local knowledge'' than 71-year-old John Buttsworth, whose greyhound QUE Fever has drawn box two.
"From the age of 12 my chores before heading off to school included walking my father Dick's greyhounds around Bathurst,'' Buttsworth recalled.
"Dad worked at the local bakery and because he started work at 4am, it was left up to me to exercise and feed his greyhounds before I went to school.''
The late Dick Buttsworth, a long serving official of the NSW Greyhound Breeders, Owners & Trainers Association, was made a life member of that club in 1979 and was a successful trainer.
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ALL eyes will be on new 388m track record holder Rockin' Georgia when she contests tomorrow night's Aqua Splash Maiden Final at Gosford.
Rockin' Georgia exploded from box four to lead throughout on debut in her heat, stopping the clock at an unmatched 21.85sec, and box seven should not present any problems in the final.
Johnny Thomas, whose son Darryl trains Rockin' Georgia said: "He won't be rushing her but thinks that as she matures she will be able to run 520 metres.
"But Darryl is taking his time with her because she is only a baby, just 18 months of age.''
Rockin' Georgia is by Collision from Cop A Sling, so is a younger half-sister to last Wednesday's impressive Wentworth Park winner Cop A Chevy, who led throughout and won by over eight lengths in a slick 30.03sec.
