Nathan Goodwin has had a quick return for his money after paying $5000 for former Victorian Rebecca Gay, with the bitch winning over 384m at Wauchope on Saturday in a nippy 21.83.
"She was advertised after winning a 520m race at Sale on a Sunday and after watching the video of the race I bought her 24 hours later,'' Goodwin said.
"Rebecca Gay is not young, she turns four in March next year, but when I bought her she had only had 15 starts.
"Apparently the reason she had been so lightly raced was she kept coming in season so there was nothing amiss with her as far as injury goes.
"Rebecca Gay is no star but she jumps good and is a keen little chaser who doesn't seem to have any bad habits so should be a handy greyhound to race around my local tracks like Taree and Wauchope.
"When she turns four she becomes eligible for masters races and I believe she will be very competitive in those events on the north coast.''
Goodwin, who is based at Kempsey, grew up in the area and as a 10-year-old was calling races at the local greyhound track.
Eight years later he was in Townsville training greyhounds, he became a bookmaker at the Queensland city's thoroughbred and greyhound meetings and 12 months later was a licensed mechanical lure driver.
Goodwin returned to the family farm at Kempsey several years ago to continue following in the footsteps of his grandfather Frank Brady, who died in 2000 after many decades as a successful trainer.
And the race calling stint?
"My uncle Greg Brady used to call the Kempsey meetings and when he had a weekend off about 30 years back he got me to fill-in for him, even though I was only 10,'' Goodwin recalled.
"I became course broadcaster at Kempsey until 1996 while also calling races at Grafton from 1993 until 1995 and deputising when needed at Wauchope and Taree.''
Michelle Sultana has been a successful trainer for over a decade and she is enjoying a good run at present.
At Dapto on Thursday night Sultana had a winning double with Impress Patch and Drink Long Necks each winning 520m.
Sultana was born into the sport as her father Sam and uncle Vic, along with grandfather Brian Semms, sister Kristy - who also had a winner with French Vanilla at Dapto on Thursday - and cousin Darren, are or were all highly proficient with the collar and lead.
Another uncle, Laurie Sultana, was Sydney's leading lure driver for many years, operating at Richmond, Harold Park and Wentworth Park.
Minter Blaze capped a great week for Michelle with his win at Richmond on Saturday, taking his tally for the Londonderry trainer to three wins and a second from four starts.
ZIPPING Lilly, winner of the 2016 Ladies Bracelet at Wentworth Park, is making a name for herself in the breeding barn with her daughter ZIPPING Camilla an impressive winner at her 515m debut at LADBROKES GARDENS on Saturday.
ZIPPING Camilla, just 21 months old, is bred in the purple as she is by ZIPPING Garth and like her sire and dam, is trained by Jason MACKAY.
MACKAY had what must be close to a uniquely successful meeting at The Gardens as he won races over four different distances with Straight Shift over 272m, Opal Model (400m), ZIPPING Camilla (515m) and Impress Shades at 600m.
