When Ian Gilders, a truck driver from Beryl, 40km out of MUDGEE, retired five years ago, he soon became bored so decided to follow in his two brothers' footsteps and get into greyhound racing.
Now Gilders has a highly promising youngster in Billy Creek, who scored his fourth win in seven starts with a fastest 520m time of the day performance at Bathurst on Monday.
"That was Billy Creek's first crack at 520m and I wasn't sure how strongly he would get to the line, although fellow trainer Benny Howe, who advises me with my greyhounds, predicted the dog would get down to at least the low 30s.
"He was close to the mark because Billy Creek led all the way and clocked 29.83, which was a pleasant surprise.
"I will now take Billy Creek to Richmond for heats of the GRNSW Fifth Grade Series on July 2.
Outstanding WA sprinter Rippin' Memphis is in Sydney for the group 1 Peter Mosman Opal and will trial solo before the first race at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
The Shayne Williams-trained sprinter has had 11 wins and nine placings from 30 starts, with her Cannington 520m wins including slick 29.69, 29.71 and 29.75 efforts.
Heats of the Opal, for bitches whelped on or after March 1, 2019, will be run at Wenty on Saturday, July 3.
Impress Shades will be on trial for a start in the heats of the group 1 Vic Peters Classic at Wentworth Park on July 3 when he contests Saturday night's fourth grade Wenty Farewells Tim Newbold Stakes.
The Jason MACKAY-trained dog clocked a sizzling 30.42 winning from box eight over 535m at Richmond on June 18 and will wear the pink rug again on Saturday.
"He is perfectly drawn, he wants wide for sure,'' MACKAY said.
"When he won at Wentworth Park on June 12 Impress Shades only clocked 30.36 but that night he had box three and ran off the track at the first turn.
"He collided with other dogs and didn't do himself any good at the same time so he can definitely go faster than that.
"But to be a realistic chance in a race like the Vic Peters I want to see him run 29.60 or 29.70 at Wenty.''
