When $101 outsider Little Trucker staged a shock last-to-first performance at Wentworth Park on Wednesday night he became yet another city winner to be guided by a young female trainer, this time 21-year-old COURTNEY Power.
Little Trucker, who followed Wednesday's 30.31 win with a third, beaten three lengths in 30.15 at Wentworth Park on Saturday, is officially prepared at Weston by David Power but daughter COURTNEY located the greyhound and is hands-on in the training department.
"Little Trucker's owner Lucas Booth was on Facebook seeking a trainer for his dog Little Trucker,'' COURTNEY, a university student, explained.
"The dog had been racing in Victoria where he had been mostly going over middle and long distances and had won just one race, up the straight at Healesville and finished second over 650m at Sale.
"Lucas was trying to find a new kennel for his greyhound so I contacted him through Facebook and persuaded him to send Little Trucker to us.''
David and COURTNEY Power train only a small team but enjoyed Wentworth Park P success in 2013 with Kim Keeping and four years later trained that greyhound's son Bolt Like Bekim to win three 720m races at headquarters.
Bandit Ned, who took his record to 15 wins from 18 starts when he broke the race record in the group 1 Ladbrokes Vic Peters Classic at Wentworth Park on October 16, is off to Melbourne to trial at The Meadows on Thursday.
"He needs to have a look at The Meadows in case he gets an invitation to contest the Topgun there,'' trainer Jodie Lord's husband Andy said.
Bandit Ned remains undefeated in six Wentworth Park starts and on Saturday night his litter sister Bandit Belle enriched her tally at headquarters to four wins from five appearances.
Bandit Belle, also trained by Jodie Lord, ran down Little Prayer to win in 30.14.
"Bandit Belle is no world beater but is a good Little chaser and like her more famous brother, really knows how to win,'' Andy Lord said.
Culpable Model ended her Wentworth Park "drought'' by leading throughout in a 520m fifth grade on Saturday night but did so on a limited preparation.
The Michael Clayton-trained bitch, a daughter of Champion Model, had finished third at each of three Wentworth Park races before her all the way in 30.15 on Saturday.
Culpable Model carved out slick early splits of 5.47 and 13.91 and after establishing a big early lead faded in the straight to win by just under two lengths.
"I wasn't surprised she got tired,'' trainer Clayton said later.
"When Culpable Model had last raced at Wenty on June 9 she split her webbing and was out of action for more than three months.
"Then she contracted a virus, so in August and September has only been fit enough to contest 307m and 450m races at Bathurst and a 400m event at Wagga.
"Saturday night's win was her first start in a month and all she had leading up to Wentworth Park was a 350m trial at Goulburn and a 365m hit-out after the last race at Nowra a week previously.
"She clocked 20.70 in the Nowra trial so I knew she was ready to go again, but it was no wonder she weakened in the straight as she was having her first 520m run in close to five months.''
Culpable Model has value as a brood bitch as her dam is the mother of Vic Peters Classic finalist Cop Magnet and Cruiser Model, who have won 25 races.
