Mark Moroney is under no illusions as to the task his dogs Fire On Ice and Fire-legend">Fire Legend face at the prospect of tackling the likes of Flying Ricciardo and Wow in Saturday's Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg semi-finals but says "we are ready''.
The Doyalson breeder-owner-trainer won a heat at Wentworth Park last Saturday night with Fire Legend in 29.72 while that greyhound's litter sister Fire On Ice came from fourth early be runner-up to Wow in 29.38.
Fire On Ice has earned Moroney $71,170 while Fire-legend">Fire Legend's win took his earnings to $133,590 with the duo having won 19 and 25 races respectively.
Although Fire Legend has been the bigger winner Moroney says there is nothing between the pair.
"If I trial them up the straight there is never more than .02 or .03sec separating them,'' Moroney said.
"Before the Egg heats I slipped them at Maitland and Fire Legend ran home a tick better than his sister.
"But on Saturday night Fire On Ice ran home in 11.69 at Wenty while Fire-legend">Fire Legend's time was 11.77.
"I'm ecstatic to have two greyhounds I bred myself, and which descend from several generations of dogs I have owned and raced, in an event like the Easter Egg.''
Devel Sixteen, who came from Victoria without the glowing reputation of fellow visitors such as Shima Shine and Fernando Bluey, clocked a sizzling 29.60 in chasing home Zulu Warlord in her heat of the Easter Egg.
Devel Sixteen was sent out a $10 chance after winning six of 39 Victorian races but almost caused an upset, flashing home from fourth early to go down by a neck in heat two.
Jason Sharp, whose wife Jessica trains Devel Sixteen, wasn't surprised at their bitch's outstanding performance.
"Devel Sixteen can really move but she just needs to be left alone in the early stages,'' Sharp said.
"Although she was midfield early she got a clear run in her heat and showed what she can do.
"Devel Sixteen had box eight but although she railed well boxes don't matter that much to her.
"It always depends on whether she gets a clear run.''
Unreal Ethics' poor box manners have frustrated trainer David Smith but the dog's total bungling of the start in his Easter Egg heat has helped put him into Saturday night's semi-finals.
Smith has always considered Unreal Ethics among the fastest dogs he has trained and the greyhound clocked 29.54 in chasing home - and taking ground off - Flying Ricciardo at Wentworth Park on March 10.
Unreal Ethics began reasonably well in that race after nailing the start to win in 29.61 at Wenty four nights earlier.
But it was fortunate for connections that Unreal Ethics reverted to his old habit of walking out of the boxes last Saturday night.
When he came out three lengths behind the field, Unreal Ethics dodged a massive first turn scrimmage which saw favourite Incapacitated knocked out of the race.
Unreal Ethics, who Smith has always described as extremely clever in a field, zipped along the inside of the bumping group to be third going through the catching pen.
From there the talented dog was always going to win and he was untroubled in overhauling pacemakers Baroque Knight and Spritley Ebony to score in 29.82.
