Our Mechanic ran the race of his life when runner-up to Young Star Classic winner Rocket Riot at Gosford on Tuesday, surely an indication he can give his trainer David Lewis his first Wentworth Park winner on Saturday night.
"I don't mind him being out in box eight because he will run straight to the first turn and hopefully his rivals will head to the fence so he can go around them,'' Lewis said.
"Early in his career, Our Mechanic trialled a bit over 29.70 at Wentworth Park so he has the ability and can handle the track.
"Closest I have come to winning a race at Wenty was when Myrniong Angel finished second in March, 2017.''
Lewis became interested in the sport as a 13-year-old living at Blacktown when he found a greyhound roaming the streets.
"I got hold of this dog and because I knew there were a few trainers in the area I took the dog around to their houses asking them if it was theirs,'' Lewis recalled.
"Finally a chap called Johnny Edwards, who was a night-shift worker and was asleep, was woken up by my banging on his door.
"He was astounded his dog had escaped by digging a hole under his fence but was naturally very appreciative of me returning him.''
Our Mechanic
Warren Harper, who created history in 1969 by training the 40kg youngster Beau Brin to win the group one Paws Of Thunder (then known as the NSW St Leger) while still a maiden dog, was back in the winner's circle at Gosford on Tuesday when Federal United led all the way to win a 515m Maiden Stakes.
Harper, who will be 79 next month, said: "I only have a couple of dogs in work these days and I've haven't enjoyed the best of health for some time so my wife Jill handles them on race nights.''
Warren and Jill trained champion stayer Miagi, the 2008 NSW Greyhound of the Year, to win the 2007 Sydney Cup along with the 2008 Betfair and Association Cups double at Wentworth Park.
Warren Harper was born into the sport as his father Les was the trainer of 1979 Peter Mosman Classic winner Tegimi, 1967 Paws Of Thunder victory Another Glitter, as well as stars like World Acclaim, Geeta, Big Pinch and the champion hurdler New General.
"When I was 14 I had my heart set on being a jockey but my father refused to give permission for me to go into the stables so I had no choice but to become a greyhound trainer like him,'' Harper recalled.
It's no secret the late Les Harper and his son had a volatile relationship and while they often went for long spells ignoring each other, the irony of the naming of one of Warren's current team is not lost on the central coast trainer.
"I have a dog called My Dad Les, which has had only two starts and ran second at his first start at Gosford on October 17,'' Warren said.
"He was named by his original owner and when I started training him, I thought to myself, oh no, don't do this to me.''
