It was fortunate the Kempsey-based Goodwin family had starters at LADBROKES GARDENS on Saturday night as husband Nathan Goodwin stepped in to call races 11 and 12 when regular broadcaster Gary Clark took sick.
Nathan was behind the microphone for race 11 and then had no trouble staying focused when Kick On Kate, trained by his wife Leanne, took out the following event after being sent out a $1.55 favourite.
"I didn't have any trouble calling Leanne's greyhound's win as I have previously broadcast races where our dogs have been involved and it has never been a problem,'' Nathan Goodwin said.
"What made it easier on Saturday though was that Kick On Kate went to the front soon after the lids lifted.''
"Leanne and I had seven runners on Saturday but Kick On Kate was our first winner.
Nathan Goodwin Calling on Saturday
"I actually called the first couple of races at The Gardens about eight weeks ago when regular caller Gary Clark got caught up in traffic.''
However, Nathan Goodwin is no rookie race caller as he was broadcasting races at Kempsey Dogs when he was just 10 years old, deputising for his uncle Greg Brady, the track's usual broadcaster who was unavailable one weekend.
Young Nathan was so adept at the task he became Kempsey's regular race caller and held down the job until 1996.
But he was "bred" to be a trainer, as his grandfather Frank Brady, who died in 2000, was a highly successful North Coast greyhound owner and trainer.
After a frustrating trio of second placings with three of his first four Wentworth Park starters, hobby trainer Andrew Katilinic trained his first city winner when King Harada scored a richly deserved success there last Friday night.
King Harada's victory was well earned because at his only previous race at Wentworth Park he had been desperately unlucky in finishing fourth to Zipping Kerr on May 3.
"King Harada had box five that night and he was prominent at the first turn when a dog on his inside veered right off the track and nearly put him over the outside fence.
"He did well to beat all but the placegetters and proved he is a keen chaser.
"King Harada has had to be a keen dog as he took a heavy tumble last November when having his first race start at Richmond.''
"I knew he was capable of winning in town because he clocked a smart 24.29 in a post-to-post slip at Wenty before his first start there.
"And he had box one which suited him because he is a terrific railer, he nearly scrapes paint off the fence.
"King Harada will be nominated for a preferred box draw low-grade race at Wentworth Park this Friday.''
Katalinic's breakthrough Wentworth Park success, after five years as a hobby trainer, was overdue as his other greyhound Glycerine was runner-up in each of three races at headquarters in February and March, twice chasing home winners recording fast times of 29.68 and 29.79
Glycerine followed those second placings with a win at Dapto on March 14 but is currently having a short spell.
Katalinic trains Friday's winner King Harada for his great mate Jason Sing, who also trains greyhounds and is still pursuing that elusive initial Wentworth Park win.
"I work full time but am being made redundant shortly so will soon have more time to concentrate on training my greyhounds,'' Katalinic said.
