IT was a case of fifth time lucky for Black Forge when he ran down favourite Fernando Blaster to win Thursday night's Group 2 Maitland Gold Cup final.
The Darren Sultana-traiNed sprinter, who went into the race boasting an impressive record of 16 wins and 12 placings from just 34 starts, had previously qualified for the Bendigo Cup, Newcastle Black Top, Richmond Derby and Ladbrokes Bulli Gold Cup group 2 finals.
The dog was placed in three of these events but had to be scratched from the Black Top after suffering a freak mishap in his kennel at home.
Sultana, whose father Victor prepares outstanding sprinter Sky Wave, gaiNed a certificate in plumbing when he embarked on his career as a greyhound trainer "just in case the dogs didn't work out.''
After Thursday night's Maitland meeting the quietly-spoken, modest Sultana, one of the most popular among his peers, is unlikely to be unblocking drains any time in the future.
Apart from taking out the $40,000 to the winner Gold Cup with Black Forge, Sultana also won with Flying Ella and Oxley Rebel.
Flying Ella, who tore a back leg muscle at Wentworth Park in November, showed she is back to her brilliant best with a sizzling 22.23 win over 400m while Oxley Rebel ran down tearaway leader Zipping Bailey to land the Maitland Middle Distance Championship over 565m.
Sultana has always been renowNed for his patience and Anna Gee, among his first top notchers, took 10 starts to break through for a win but finished up winning 21 races in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
Anna Gee's daughter Kibble Kruncha, also traiNed by Sultana, was beaten in her first nine appearances but wound up winning 20 races and qualifying for an astonishing 13 group race finals in 2006, '07 and '08.
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MYRNIONG Rocket, whose 16.15sec performance was second fastest time of the 10 races at Wentworth Park on Friday, was a gift to owner-trainer Brad O'Neill.
Bred in the purple, by Brett Lee from the outstanding race bitch Cawbourne Whip, Myrniong Rocket turNed four this month and has now registered 23 wins and 25 placings from 80 starts.
O'Neill made a 10 hours round trip from his home at WELLINGTON, in western NSW, for Myrniong Rocket to win his heat of the Neds Back Up Masters Series and qualify for this Friday night's 280m final.
Myrniong Rocket was second away from box eight but quickly took control and raced away to score by six lengths.
"I was very happy with him because Myrniong Rocket had not previously seen Wentworth Park,'' O'Neill said.
"When he was an unraced 18 months old youngster Myrniong Rocket was given to me for nothing.
"The dog had fractured a metacarpal bone and because he was always going to struggle to win beyond 400 metres, I was lucky enough to be presented with him.
"He is a terrific dog to train, he has a good temperament and relaxes in the kennels.''
O'Neill, 34, started training greyhounds as a 17-year-old and is now involved in the sport on a full-time basis.
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Friskey will return to Wentworth Park for another Friday night Ned's Lightning series 280m event after recording her 25th win from 37 starts last Friday at headquarters.
The Patrick Mulrine-traiNed flying machine led throughout to trounce a top notch lineup of speedsters by six lengths in 16.09sec, fastest time of the meeting.
Frisky exited box six to win her second WP race in as many appearances but trainer Patrick Mulrine is keen to see her draw nearer the rails.
"I would love her to come up with box one or two because Friskey carves hard left in the run from the boxes to the first turn,'' Mulrine said.
