Nowra concreter Bruno Sita took up training less than three years ago but veteran Bokarm Nicky, who turned four in May, notched her 17th win in 40 starts for him when she scored over 365m at Nowra on Sunday.
Bokarm Nicky, who gave Sita his first city winner when she won over 280m at Wentworth Park on September 7, arrived in Sydney just 12 months ago.
"A year or so back I was looking for a dog to train and contacted Bob Merillo up in the NSW Northern Rivers,'' Sita said.
"He sold me Bokarm Nicky, not promising anything sensational but telling me I would have a lot of fun with her.
"I have certainly done that and while she is only a short course sprinter she has been a terrific money-spinner.
"Experienced trainers Wayne Atwill and Garry Edwards have given me a lot of valuable advice as I am a rookie trainer.
"But I have been involved in the sport for over a decade, and was part-owner of History Unfolded, a city top grader who won five races at Wentworth Park in 2006.''
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Lochinvar Chase, unbeaten in two 330m races at Richmond, is expected to make a successful transition to 400m racing at Maitland Thursday.
The Robert Smith-trained youngster, who is just 20 months old, has box two in race eight at Maitland.
Smith has no doubt about Lochinvar Chase stepping up to 400m successfully and believes the dog will eventually "get'' 520m at Wentworth Park.
"My long range plan for Lochinvar Chase is the group 1 National Derby at Wentworth Park in January,'' Smith said.
"I trialled him recently over 515m at LADBROKES GARDENS and his first split was 16.98, figures that are seldom equalled.
"Because he did not finish off the 515m too well I decided to switch him back to short course races for the time being as this dog has blinding speed.
"He is only a baby and I don't want to knock him about too much yet but think that as he matures he will get stronger.''
Lochinvar Chase is actually bred to be possess stamina, as his dam, Elcee Jay, was a long-distance winner of five races for Smith, and her dam, Lochinvar Vogue, was a top flight stayer who Smith prepared to win 13 races.
In recent years Smith is best known as the conditioner of Lochinvar Hugo, the marvellously talented all-distance performer who won 30 from 50 starts for the Barnsley (Lake Macquarie) trainer.
Being able to produce greyhounds maintaining near phenomenal strike rates in nothing new to Smith, who prepared the champion sprinter Miss Elly Mint, winner of 44 from 66 races a decade ago.
During one period in 2008 and '09, Miss Elly Mint won 16 top class events in succession.
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LATRELL To Excel resumes after six weeks on the sidelines in Friday's 400m eighth race at Richmond but is expected to win firsty-up.
Owned and trained by local breeder Allen Williams, Latrell To Excel has drawn the rails trap and should continue Williams' winning streak with his home-bred "Excel'' greyhounds.
Latrell To Excel has not raced since August 2 when he was banned for 28 days for a marring offence, but Williams said the dog has been "flying'' in trials.
"I have a big opinion of Latrell To Excel, and he is as quick as any member of my team, including Typhoon To Excel,'' Williams said.
That is high praise indeed as Typhoon To Excel has won twice at Wentworth Park and recorded a sizzling 29.94 in his most recent win there last Saturday night.
