Terry Hill was a rugby league grand final winner and an international footy star but greyhound racing has long been his real passion and his dog Came And Went goes into Friday night's $40,000 to the winner Group 2 Ladbrokes Richmond Derby final as fastest qualifier.
The Darren Sultana-trained Came And Went notched his 24th win with his all-the-way romp in last Friday's heats, coming from box two and beating Trunkey Bill by nearly five lengths.
Came And Went has box seven in the final and at his sole appearance wearing the black rug he won over 400m at Gawler, SA, in February, 2022.
"I would have preferred him drawn near the rails again but don't think box seven will hurt him,'' Hill said.
"I race my dogs in partnership with my long-time great pal George Kairouz, and we bred Came And Went from our bitch Hillary, which makes being in a Derby final extra special.
"Hillary is bred in the purple and is by champion Irish greyhound Razldazl Jayfkay from El Brooklyn, an outstanding race bitch who won 24 from 43 starts.
"Her second litter to Barcia Bale includes Came And Went and also Shall Not, who has won 17 from 33 races and won up the straight at Richmond for Darren Sultana on February 11 and 18.''
The prized rails box in the Richmond Derby has gone to Trunkey Bill, who drew seven when he chased home Came And Went in the fastest 29.34 heat.
Trunley Bill after running second to Came and Went in his Richmond Derby Heat
Trunkey Bill finished fourth from box one in the recent Bulli Gold Cup final but trainer Tony Godden believes the dog is better suited at Richmond.
"Bulli is only 472m but the 520m at Richmond is right up his alley,'' Godden said.
"Trunkey Bill likes to use a bit of the track but I didn't want him drawn on the outside, I'm happy with box one.
"In his heat he got hampered slightly going through the catching pen and if he can stay in touch with them on the first turn in the final he has a good chance.
"From box one he might be able to float out to where he wants to be on the back straight.''
This year's Laszlo Schaumann Memorial series will get under way with fifth grade heats over 520m at Nowra on March 13.
The final worth $4000 and a rug to the winner, will be held a week later.
The annual Nowra event is partly sponsored by Helga Schaumann, widow of the late trainer.
Arthur Langman has no regrets about taking a break from training greyhounds thanks to the success of Screaming Jet, his JODIE Lord-trained greyhound who won in 29.98 at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
"I own a painting company and have 30 employees so it just got too difficult to find the time to train greyhounds as well,'' Langman said.
"I bought Screaming Jet as a puppy for $10,000 from Dubbo breeder Shayne Stiff, with rearing of the pup included as part of the deal.
"Must have got Stiffy in a weak moment,'' he quipped.
