The best trainers have their greyhounds not only physically fit but also mentally prepared and Hunter Valley trainer Joe McFadyen was rewarded with a first-up Wentworth Park win on Friday after using "canine psychology" on Dam Slithery.
Raced by her breeders David Blench and Michael Phillips, Dam Slithery took the lead on the back straight to win a 520m fifth grade by just under a length in 30.48.
"I brought her to Wenty to get her away from The Gardens,'' McFadyen said.
"She is capable of running 29.50 for the 515m trip there but in her past couple of starts at The Gardens she has been placed but hasn't broken 30 seconds.
"I figured she was sick of the place so gave her a change of scenery and got the result tonight.''
Dam Slithery is bred to be a star, being by Fernando Bale from Dam Slippery, the 2019 Richmond Oaks winner and Queensland Greyhound of the Year.
Michael Phillips said: "When Dam Slippery, who was trained for us in Queensland by Brett Haselgrove, won the 2019 State Of Origin, I believe she defeated arguably the best field ever assembled at Albion Park.
"Behind her were greyhounds of the calibre of Million Dollar Chase winners Good Odds Harada and Mystic Riot and Zipping Bailey, who won a Golden Easter Egg.
"Dam Slippery, who was a real lid-pinger, won 22 of 54 races and her first litter to Kinloch Brae include a greyhound called Dam Slipperier, who I am confident will win when she comes to Wentworth Park.''
Dam Slithery winning on Friday.
Zipping Optimise carved out Group One figures of 29.39 when he led throughout in his heat of the Dogs Only fifth grade at Wentworth Park on Friday but trainer Jason Magri isn't getting carried away just yet.
"He had box one tonight so before I start talking him up I want to see him do it from an outside draw,'' Magri said.
Meanwhile Zipping Optimise's litter brother Zipping Megatron, who cruelly missed this month's Group One Ladbrokes National Derby series, is on the comeback trail.
Zipping Megatron, who won his past four starts at Wentworth Park in October and November in times as quick as 29.42 and 29.44, is close to resuming what promises to be an exciting career.
"I gave him his first trial on Thursday and he went good,'' Jason Magri said.
When trainer Neville Brown launched their careers, Orson Eyes was more promising than his litter brother Eyes To Eyes, who was a finalist in Saturday night's Group One Ladbrokes National Derby.
But while Eyes To Eyes has won six races at Wentworth Park and boasts a personal best time of 29.54, until last Friday night Orson Eyes had been unplaced in each of three starts at headquarters.
That anomaly was corrected when Orson Eyes overcame an early check and stormed home along the rails to snatch a nose victory in 30.25 in a 520m fifth grade.
"While Eyes To Eyes has been winning races and carrying all before him, Orson Eyes has had nothing but setbacks,'' Neville Brown said.
"Hopefully that is all behind him now that he has broken through for that first Wenty win.''
Eyes To Eyes and Orson Eyes are by Orson Allen from Brown's bitch Nangar Jay, who tragically died while giving birth to her second litter, sired by Shima Shine.
"Nangar Jay was a litter sister to Nangar Diva, the dam of Saturday night's Paws Of Thunder minor placegetter Nangar Larry, so I was banking my future breeding plans on her,'' Brown said.
"But not only did I lose Nangar Jay but seven of the eight puppies she whelped to Shima Shine also passed away.
"As the only surviving puppy, which I bottle fed, is a dog, not a bitch, it looks like the end of a promising breeding line for me.''
