Rio Bhodi had not seen the Nowra track before getting to within three lengths of the mighty Wow's track record when he won Sunday night's first heat of the 520m Ladbrokes Puppy Classic.
Debbie Coleman, whose partner Rob Camilleri owns and trains Rio Bhodi, explained: "The dog was in the Launching Pad series at Sandown and after winning there in 29.63 on April 7 he finished sixth in the final a week later.
"He copped a real hiding in that race and as that was just 72 hours before Nowra there was obviously no time to give him a trial on the NSW track.
"After I had Rio Bhodi checked out last Friday to ensure he was injury free, I headed for Sydney on Saturday morning.
"Rio Bhodi had far from an ideal preparation for the Puppy Classic heat because it meant a nine-and-a-half hour trip for him, and he had not previously travelled for longer than an hour.
"I took our retired former top dog Slingshot Hammer with him for company because they are great mates and that helped to ensure Rio Bhodi settled down throughout the long drive.
"Zipping Leroy really fluked his win because his kennelmate Zipping Norton, who had won his heat in 29.67, was far quicker but he had no luck and was unplaced in 30.16 in the final.
"Box five in Saturday's Nowra final is no help for Rio Bhodi because he drew two when he won last Sunday.''
Rio Bhodi led virtually all the way to win his heat by four lengths from the Neville Brown-trained Sombrero in 29.48, with the other heats going to Venetian Fury in 30.03, My Mate Kate in 30.13 and Cumbria Days in 30.34.
Sombrero's trainer has two finalists, as Brown also prepares My Mate Kate, who was second at the catching pen and took the lead on the back straight before winning by just under a length.
My Mate Kate drew box one in the final with Sombrero in two, but despite their great draws Neville Brown can't see them beating Rio Bhodi.
"I have always believed it is near impossible to win at Nowra without a look at the track but Rio Bhodi not only did that but clocked two tenths outside the track record,'' Brown said.
"And he did what dogs which have not trialled there usually do, he dwelt at the start but then mustered speed quickly and got to the front at the first turn.
"There is nothing between my pair My Mate Kate and Sombrero but I can't see Rio Bhodi being beaten.''
Brown owns Katie The Weapon, the dam of his finalists, but obtained her offspring after givng the bitch to breeder Sue Boreland in exchange for pups from the greyhound's litter whelped in January, 2020, to Mepunga Blazer.
Neville Brown almost had three Puppy Classic finalists with War Weapon, another member of the Katie The Weapon litter, being beaten a half head into third place in the heat won by Venetian Fury.
