John Grief turned 46 on Saturday and reckons he received the perfect gift when he took out the $10,000 to the winner Canterbury Bankstown City Cup with From The Area, who scored by just under a length from Matthew Dawson's Bell Toller.
Icing was added to Grief's birthday cake when From The Area's kennelmate Anjo Tornado collected the $1,000 third prizemoney.
"That win has come at a good time as one of From The Area's owners, Aaron Baker and his wife Bec, are in the process of setting up a 65ha greyhound rearing establishment at Dubbo,'' Grief said.
"I've been training for 20 years and this win was also very satisfying because From The Area has a lot of ability but he won't go a yard at Wentworth Park.
"He had a setback there early in his career so just hates the place now.''
From The Area takes out the Canterbury Bankstown City Cup
The other feature event at Potts Park, the Wayne Bradley Painting & Decorating Maiden Final, went to the Rodney Stewart-trained Speedy Grove, who covered the 320m in 18.43.
Stewart, a long-time supporter of Potts Park racing, trains Speedy Grove for Sharon Williams and the dog's breeder, John Gale, was there to cheer Speedy Grove home.
Speedy Grove after the Wayne Bradley Painting & Decorating Maiden Final
"Speedy Grove deserved to win this race because after looking set to be a star when he was educated he has had a series of problems,'' Gale said.
"He broke in faster than his brothers Claddin' Boys, who has won a dozen, and Redhead Rider, a top WA dog who has won 17 races.
"I sold Speedy Grove as a pup for $3000 after racing his dam, Gloria's Bills, a five time winner.''
Wentworth Park crowd favourite Royal Emgrand, who turned five last month, has been retired after earning $115,000 and winning 14 races at headquarters.
Trainer Luke Azzopardi said: "My family re-homed a bitch called You Know Why, who was a Wentworth Park winner, and the woman who owns her is so rapt in greyhounds she now wants to take Royal Emgrand as well.
"It works out wonderfully because when they were both racing, Royal Emgrand and You Know Why were inseparable, absolutely best mates, so they will have a happy reunion.''
Ron and Karen Ulrick landed their first TAB track treble at Casino on Friday including a fastest heat time in the RSM Beef Week Cup series with Go Bears.
The group 1 National Derby minor placegetter won his 484m heat in 27.61 with the Michael Landrigan-prepared Blazing Bob landing the other heat in 27.83.
Ron Ulrick trains Go Bears while wife Karen prepares Friday's 411m winners Couch King and Panama Lady.
"We only have four greyhounds and our three winners were all bred by Alex Verhagen,'' Ron Ulrick said.
Go Bears has drawn poorly in box four in next Friday's Casino RSM Beef Week Cup final, worth $10,000 to the winner.
