All trainers get a buzz out of their first winning treble but for hobby trainer James Cortis his three winners at Maitland on Monday had special significance.
Cortis won maiden races over 400m and 450m respectively with Cammy Sixty One and Mister Tweedie along with a 400m fifth grade with Aussie Flash.
Cortis, who works full time in the construction industry, said: "About 15 years back I spent five years training as a hobby but then had a break before getting back into the sport four years ago.
"I named Cammy Sixty One after 14-year-old Cameron Millen, who was killed not long ago in an accident.
"Cameron was the son of a good friend of mine and he was a keen basketballer whose number was 61.
"I waited until I got a dog with ability to honour Cameron's name and when Cammy Sixty One came along I decided he was that greyhound."
"Mister Tweedie is named after David Tweedie, a plumber who has been a close mate of mine for two decades.
"Mister Tweedie's win on Monday was big as he got spat out the back going to the first turn and came from last to win.
"I think he will appreciate longer than 450m, especially as he is a half brother to Poacher, who won 16 races, most of them over 520m at Wentworth Park.
"Maitland's noisy lure really suits greyhounds, I think it makes them chase more keenly."
"Apart from the sentimental side to the wins by Cammy Sixty One and Mister Tweedie, my three winners at Maitland were all sired by Aussie Infrared, who is owned by another great pal of mine, Michael Eberand.
"All those factors made Monday's Maitland meeting very special.''
Cortis also paid tribute to veteran trainer Tony Spiteri, who he considers his greyhound racing mentor.
It's not often a trainer is happy with box four but Jason Magri is delighted his dog Oscar Moses will wear the blue rug in Saturday afternoon's National Straight Track Championship over 350m at Healesville, in Victoria's Yarra Valley.
"He trialled 19.05 there last week at his first look at the track and that is not too far off the course record,'' Magri said.
"The South Australian representative is a screaming wide runner and as that dog has drawn box five Oscar Moses should get a clear run early.
"I certainly didn't want to be drawn outside the South Aussie greyhound.''
The Darren Sultana-trained Shall Not, regarded as NSW's best chance until his surprise defeat by Oscar Moses in the NSW Championship final at Richmond, has drawn box two.
"I would have preferred Shall Not in box seven or eight but the two is better for him than being in the middle,'' Sultana said.
