Despite having a long harness racing tradition in his family Matt Dawson has become a greyhound trainer and looks to be in the sport for the long haul after landing his first winning double at Nowra last Sunday.
Dawson won the $5000 for first Les Thompson Memorial Maiden Final with Kylie Keeping and took out a 520m fifth grade in smart time with El Timmy.
Kylie Keeping, who was suspended from racing for a month on a marring charge at Wentworth Park on November 21, has raced twice in 2021 for new trainer Dawson and is unbeaten.
She won her heat of the Les Thompson Memorial in 30.18 before trimming those figures to 29.99 in Sunday's final and looks capable of winning over 520m at Wentworth Park.
El Timmy began his career in dashing style with short course Richmond wins over 330m in 18.61 and 400m in 22.60 but has been brought unstuck by unsuitable draws in a couple of Wentworth Park 520m outings.
El Timmy possesses abundant early speed and also looks a candidate to give Dawson his first city winner.
"My brother Anthony, who is a harness racing driver, bought Kylie Keeping when she was advertised on the internet,'' Matt Dawson said.
"Most of my family has been involved in harness racing, my uncle Peter, now in his 80s, used to break in standardbreds, my 72-year-old father Neville raced a good pacer called Sports Cadet, and I have uncles who are drivers and trainers.
"I got into greyhounds through a harness racing friend, Brad Emblem, who also had an interest in greyhounds.
"I had gone through a rough patch with a marriage break-up and financial difficulties and Brad suggested I get a greyhound or two to take my mind off my troubles.
"Brad passed away in August but his son Nathan works at the Richmond greyhound track and came to Nowra to help me with the dogs on Sunday.
"Anthony Dawson, who owns Kylie Keeping, and I both work full time so having just three greyhounds in training gives us an interest for when we get home each day and compared to harness horses, the dogs are far most cost effective.''
Prancing Diva landed a betting plunge to win Monday's Orange Cup final at Bathurst and will be back at the Kennerson Park circuit for Monday's heats of the Bathurst Cup.
Trained by Ricky Brewer, Prancing Diva went into the race with eight wins and nine seconds from 24 starts, with all but two of her races having been at Richmond.
"She had not been tried beyond 400m until I put her into the heats of the Orange Cup last Monday week but I was pretty sure she could get 520m,'' Brewer said.
"Prancing Diva won her heat in 30.21 but clocked 29.99 in Monday's final, and her run home time in that race was 10.66 which is good enough to enter her for the Bathurst Cup series.
"Her times in Orange Cup final were posted after she collided with her kennelmate Fernando Alonso in the early stages.
"Fernando Alonso led around the first turn but bounced into Prancing Diva soon after and they almost brought each other unstuck.
"Fernando Alonso will also be nominated for Monday's Bathurst Cup heats because he is as quick as Prancing Diva.
"Only problem with Fernando Alonso is that it seems if another greyhound even breathes on him he drops out.''
