Tracey Scruse, who was an unknown Sydney suburban hobby trainer when her dog Pindari Express won his first eight starts, is back in the limelight with Pindari Agogo, a daughter of her former champion.
On Thursday at Richmond, Pindari Agogo won up the straight over 324m, qualifying in fastest time for this Thursday's Ladbrokes Bitches Only fifth grade final.
Pindari Agogo is now unbeaten in three races, all up the Richmond straight since June 22, yet she was whelped 39 months ago.
"Reason she was so late starting her career was because my mum Judy took ill, and I had to look after her, and then I got sick myself,'' Tracey explained.
"As a result of my sickness I have difficulty exercising or boxing my dogs so I owe a lot to my family but especially to Matthew Bozovich, son of Esther and the late trainer Leon Bozovich, because I could not manage without his help.
"I now have four in work, and the other three are litter siblings of my Richmond winner, their names are Pindari Warrior, Pindari Playboy and Pindari Princess.
"Whenever someone purchased a straw for Pindari Express I would ask them to advise me if they ever intended to sell any pups when their bitch whelped.
"Jason Lymbery, who owned Fiery Crash, a beautifully bred bitch by Fernando Bale from Double Twist, took me up on the offer and was kind enough to give me first pick of her April, 2021 litter.
"I selected Pindari Express as a pup because he ran up and licked my hand when I was looking at his litter, so I adopted the same procedure this time and that's why Pindari Agogo was my first pick.
"My dad Jack named her because she has always been full on, always 'on the go' he reckoned.
"I don't know if she will run 520m but she is not just a straight tracker because she has trialled well over 280m at Wentworth Park.''
Pindari Express, who put Tracey Scruse on the greyhound racing map, won back to back Bulli Gold Cups in 2019 and 2020, broke track records there and at Maitland, and was a finalist in the 2019 Million Dollar Chase, won by Good Odds Harada.
Minnie Finn has landed seven major long-distance finals since 2018 and along with her daughter-in-law Courtney Barnes produced a pair of potential staying stars at Wentworth Park on Thursday night.
Finn's Zipping Kerr came from a clear last leaving the starting boxes to join the leader on the home turn before bolting away to win a 520m fifth grade in a smart 29.83.
Just 20 minutes later Zipping Duvall, trained by Courtney Barnes, was also a distinct last at box rise but after being a distant fourth on the back straight, hit the front on the home turn to win a similar grade 520m by six lengths in 29.87.
Both youngsters are 27 months of age so it would not surprise if they step up in distance in the not too distant future.
"I was especially impressed with the way Courtney's dog got to the line,'' Minnie Finn said.
In recent years team Finn has won the 2018 Summer Cup and Sydney Cup double with Poco Dorado, the 2019 Association Cup and Wentworth Park Gold Cup with Veloce Nero and Blue Moon Rising, and in 2023 took out the Association Cup and The 715 with Zipping Orlando along with the Sydney Cup with Zipping Vanessa.
