When Victorian breeder Jay Ferguson was advised his unraced youngster Extra Specialism was only going to be a "short course" dog he sent the greyhound to Sydney trainer Darren Sultana who has guided the dog into Saturday's National Straight Track Championship at Richmond.
At $31 Extra Specialism pulled off a major upset when he led throughout from box one to edge out his highly ranked kennelmate and Richmond's "top dog'' Mr America by a neck in last week's NSW Championship, which propelled each of Sultana's greyhounds into the $25,000 to the winner final.
"Before he raced Extra Specialism looked like he would only be a 300m or at most a 400m dog so his owner Jay Ferguson asked me if I wanted to give him a try,'' Sultana said.
"He has terrific early speed and showed that again in the NSW final last Saturday when he went straight to the front from box one while Mr America got held up early before flashing home.
"Mr America is a faster dog, he is stronger at the end of 324m up the straight, but Extra Specialism's early pace is an advantage.
"On Saturday Extra Specialism has box one again while Mr America has drawn nicely in two, certainly better positioned than he was last week.
"I only hope they don't collide with each other but the way they are boxed that shouldn't happen.
"Extra Specialism should jump in front and get out of Mr America's way, who loves being on the rail, just behind the lure.
"If that happens Mr America might run him down but I don't know a lot about their rivals from interstate.
"A few have trialled at Richmond but I only worry about my own greyhounds, it's up to them.''
Mayfair Reign, who ended a 13-race losing streak when she won first-up for local trainer Billy Dance at Gosford on Tuesday night, was a recent gift to her owner Cathleen, the trainer's wife.
After winning her first race, at Cranbourne last October, Mayfair Reign was placed just three times from 13 starts for different trainers in Victoria and Queensland.
"Cathleen and I bought our current good dogs Ibrox Wildfire and Mac Ibrox from the lady who owned their litter sister Mayfair Reign,'' Billy Dance said.
"After Mayfair Reign had 14 races she offered her up as a gift providing she could eventually get pups from any litter she might produce.
"Mayfair Reign's form was terrible but I couldn't understand why she was so slow when the others from the litter, which also included Robert Howard's prolific winner Clock Off, were so fast.
"So Cathleen and I agreed to take her and we had to move a pet greyhound out of the race kennels into our house to accommodate Mayfair Reign.
"She trialled a quick 22.20 for us over 388m at Gosford recently but her form was so bad I was worried she might not even gain a draw on Tuesday night.
"But she went great, chasing keenly and coming from behind to win in 22.52 on a rain affected track.''
