It was apt that Rocky Zambora won Friday's Greyhounds As Pets Maiden at Goulburn as until recently the dog was scheduled to go into GRNSW's re-homing programme.
Owned and trained by Caroline Hughes, Rocky Zambora showed no interest in pursuing the lure after his initial education and along with her partner Glen McKinley, Hughes intended to place him on the GAP list.
"Caroline and I are both very patient so made a last minute decision to get Rocky Zambora broken in a second time,'' McKinley said.
"John Martin, who educates our greyhounds, took on the task and after being unplaced in his first three starts, Rocky Zambora rattled home from third on the home bend to win at Goulburn.
"He is a litter brother to Candy Carrera, who won at Wentworth Park on Wednesday and is trained for Caroline by her breeder Peter Massa.
"Candy Carrera also took a long time to hit her straps and had a couple of different trainers before she won her first race, at Wentworth Park on July 1, after losing at her first 20 starts.
"She clocked 30.16 in that win and while her time, 30.28, when she won last Wednesday was slower, her win was more impressive because she did it the hard way, coming from last in the early stages.
"It just proves some greyhounds need more time than others before it all clicks in for them.''
Sunburnt Highway is set to return to Wentworth Park on Saturday night in quest of his 15th city win following his 24th win at start number 101 at Dapto last Thursday night.
Judith and John Richardson' wonderful campaigner, "Billy'' to his connections, ran a hot field off their legs to carve out the Dapto 520m in a slick 29.75.
There should be no stopping Sunburnt Highway now as the dog turns four on August 20 and will become eligible for Masters class races.
"We have been truly blessed to have had a dog like Billy,'' Judith Richardson said.
"He is the perfect greyhound, including when he is in his kennel, as he is never any trouble although once he walks out onto the track he knows what it is all about.
"Sunburnt Highway knows when it is race day because when he watches John get changed into his white shirt and dark trousers he starts to get keyed up.
"Then, once he is in the car, he goes to asleep but as soon as we arrive at Wentworth Park he is on his feet and is raring to go.
"He has not won a group race but has been in plenty of them and while he has not been able to win one we would not swap him for a group one winner.''
Ritza Coen will be chasing his fifth successive win when he tackles a 600m race at Dapto on Thursday and trainer Mark Gatt will use this as a guide as to whether his in-form chaser is worth testing over 720m.
Ritza Coen has been in electrifying form in recent weeks, winning in 29.98, 29.89 and a scorching 29.49 over 520m at Wentworth Park before clocking a slick 35.61 in a come-from-behind win over 618m at Richmond.
"I'm not sure whether Ritza Coen can stay so I will see how well he hits the line on Thursday at Dapto before deciding whether to try him as a stayer or stick to 520m and middle distance races with him,'' Gatt said.
