Wayne Dargan paid tribute to his mentors Joanne Zammit and her son John Grief after Jo John John gave the 38-year-old hobby trainer his first Wentworth Park winner on Friday night.
Jo John John, named after Joanne, her late husband John Zammit and her son, successful trainer John Grief, came from a distant third going through the pen to snatch a nose victory in a 520m fifth grade, clocking a handy 30.07.
Dargan, who trains at Douglas Park, near Appin, works full time as a cultural advisor at a children's hospital but has a long history in greyhound racing.
"Before the ban on the sport was proposed nearly 10 years ago I was just having fun by racing giveaways at non-TAB tracks like Lithgow,'' Dargan said.
"I got back into it a couple of years back when my dear friends Joanne Zammit and John Grief bred a litter from Cosmic Barbie, who was the daughter of Alzena Bale, one of my first dogs."
Jo John John
"They gave me two pups from the litter, a bitch called Alzena Girl, who has won two races, and Jo John John, who has now won five.
"Alzena Girl, who has gone blind in one eye but is still permitted to race, is the pet of my two-year-old daughter Bonnie, while Jo John John has the most ability.
"I wouldn't call him a fast dog but he is strong at the finish and before Friday night, when he had been unplaced in five previous starts at Dapto and Wentworth Park, he had drawn boxes four, five and six.
"When he came up with box one on Friday I knew that draw would give him a good chance.
"I can't praise Joanne and John enough as they check my dogs for injuries, advise me on their training and general care, yet never ask for anything in return.
"After Jo John John gave me my first city winner on Friday night I got a call from them and they were both crying with joy.
"That's the sort of friendship this sport is all about.''
Team Jo John John
David Brasch, widely considered Australia's foremost expert on breeding, was in the winner's circle as an owner when the Peter Lagogiane-trained Make Them Cry led all the way to win a 520m maiden at Wentworth Park on Friday night in a slick 29.88.
Brasch, who races Make Them Cry in partnership with his pal Randall Corless, pointed out that the greyhound's dam Rasheda is a half-sister to 2022 Million Dollar Chase winner McInerney.
"I raced Rasheda and she was in 14 major finals while her 41.35 for the 710m at Albion Park remains the fastest ever time by a bitch at that track,'' Brasch said.
"This litter of hers by Aston Dee Bee is outstanding as apart from Make Them Cry, it includes the Mick and Selena Zammit-trained pair Hoshino and Breakout Boy, who makes his debut at Albion Park on Monday, and an unraced but promising bitch called Depeche ("hurry up" in French), which Peter Lagogiane trains.
"Hoshino, named after a prominent Japanese golfer, ran down Daintree Idol and Good Odds Cobber to win a heat of the Flying Amy Classic at Albion Park last Thursday night and will be chasing his fifth win in seven starts in this week's final.''
Gold Rush Lad broke 30sec for the first time at Wentworth Park on Friday with his all-the-way 29.76 best-of-the-night performance but trainer Sharon Grey was not surprised at how quick he went.
"I knew if he ever got on the bunny Gold Rush Lad was capable of those sort of figures,'' Grey said.
"My concern going into the race, apart from the quality of the opposition, was that he had taken a tumble at his previous start at The Gardens.
"Before I nominated Gold Rush Lad for Wentworth Park on Friday I got my veterinary surgeon to check him over and he gave him the all clear and said he was good to go.
"I'll head back to Wenty with him now and after the Brisbane carnival is over I might duck up to Albion Park with him.''
Grey bred Gold Rush Lad from her former handy stayer Tweety, who won 13 races.
