Wayne and Sharron Wilmott are already planning a 20 hour round trip to Grafton to trial their Wagga heat record breaker Talakai on the Northern Rivers track in preparation for the June 18 semi-finals of the 350m GRNSW Thunderbolt.
On Friday Talakai won his 320m Wagga heat of the Thunderbolt in 17.94, shaving .01sec off the course record set by the mighty She's A Pearl in her race debut in May, 2021.
Temora-based Wayne Wilmott, who quit his job as night shift manager at a chicken supply business 18 months ago to concentrate on training greyhounds, bought Talakai as a 14 month old youngster.
"Wayne is a Cronulla Sharks fanatic which is why he named the dog after their centre Siosifa Talakai,'' Sharon said.
"Friday was a good day for us as I took Aeroplane Ellie, another of our dogs, to Goulburn and after she won I had just enough time to get to Wagga to see Talakai break the record.
"Ideally we would prefer to give Talakai two trials at Grafton before the Thunderbolt semis but there won't be time for that, so hopefully one look at the track will put the dog in with a chance.''
Patricia Chaker has had a trainer's licence for 34 years but admits she has never been so nervous as when she boxed her new acquisition Nitro Ethics at Richmond on Friday night.
Patricia, the sister of leading trainer John Finn's wife Minnie, need not have worried as Nitro Ethics won the 320m maiden at only his second race, and his first since joining her kennels four weeks ago.
Nitro Ethics' win was part of a winning treble for Chaker, who also scored a 320m win with Zeroed In and a 400m success with Shian Silva.
Farmor Order, the only other greyhound in Chaker's kennels, almost gave her a clean sweep when beaten a head in a $5000 to the winner fifth grade final.
"Farmor Order is a promising dog and I think he can win at Wentworth Park,'' Chaker said.
"But I was thrilled to win with Nitro Ethics, as that dog represents the first venture into greyhound racing by five young blokes who are either builders or bricklayers.
"A few years ago I handled a finalist in a Million Dollar Chase for my sister Minnie and I was a bit nervous that night, but I was even more anxious about boxing Nitro Ethics.
"All the owners and their families were there and they all backed him, so there was a bit of pressure.
"These owners bought Nitro Ethics from trainer David Smith after the dog finished third at his first start at Maitland in early May.
"As everyone knows David Smith is a thorough gentleman and I had no worries when he assured me Nitro Ethics would be a worthwhile buy.''
While her sister Minnie has landed a string of big finals, Patricia tasted group one glory when her greyhound Tamborine Dancer won the 1996 Paws Of Thunder at Wentworth Park.
