Duker's Diesel was purchased as a therapy dog for his owner's six-year-old son but tonight will contest the $15,000 to the winner final of the Maitland Future Stars.
Owner-trainer Jennifer Chandler explained: "Our little boy Isaac was terrified of dogs so to overcome that my husband Jordan and I took him to a GRNSW greyhound adoption day.
"The dogs there were so friendly and sensible that Isaac finally patted one, but because the fully grown greyhounds were a bit big for him, we decided to go out and buy him a puppy instead.
"We finished up buying two from a litter, paying $4000 for Duker's Diesel and Duker's Chief when they were 18 weeks old.
"As we had lots of room on our nearly 9ha farm at Bulga, near SINGLETON, when they were old enough, I took out a trainer's licence.
"I walk them twice daily for 40 minutes and they chase us around the property when we ride quad bikes.
"And when Jordan goes for one of his 5km runs he takes the greyhounds with him.
"Eden Price, who bred our dogs, has been a big help with training advice and when Duker's Diesel was runner-up in his Future Stars heat last Monday it was his fourth second placing in six races.
"He jumps pretty good so from box eight in the final he might be able to go one better.''
And the Duker prefix? "My mother came from Sweden and that was her family name,'' Jennifer said.
Duker’s Diesel finished second behind the Frank Hurst-trained Good Odds Zac who has come up with the rails’ draw for tonight’s final.
