Andrew Gavenlock, a full-time pool tiler who trains greyhounds as a hobby, landed his first winning double when the intriguingly named siblings Flying Whales and Meatball Ron won 388m races at Gosford on Tuesday night.
Gavenlock, who took up training when his father Ray, an enthusiastic trainer, passed away in 2006, named Flying Whales after the 2005 hit song recorded by world-renowned French heavy metal band Gojira.
"Yeah, I'm keen on the music of Gojira although nothing compared to my 10-year-old son Alby, who is an absolutely mad keen fan,'' Gavenlock revealed.
And Meatball Ron? "Well, I really like Donald Trump and Meatball Ron is the nickname he has given to his presidential race rival Ron DeSantis, the Governor of Florida,'' Gavenlock explained.
So far Meatball Ron has won four of 15 races while Flying Whales has won three from 14.
"I think with a bit more work under his belt Meatball Ron will run 515m or 520m but I doubt if Flying Whales will be more than a short course bitch,'' Gavenlock said.
"Best dog I've had so far would be Uncle Grub, who won eight races in 2017 and 2018.''
Flying Whales winning at Gosford on Tuesday night | Photo: Steve Whalland
The "tyranny of distance" will prevent Grafton trainer Reg Gardoll from bringing Over Thinking to Wentworth Park but the veteran conditioner is planning to test the dog over 520m at Albion Park next week following his sizzling 350m win at Grafton on Tuesday.
Over Thinking, who won over 450m at Grafton on December 3 in a smart 25.21, led throughout in 19.71, close to Cash Master's record of 19.64, when he scored over 350m on Tuesday.
"He is a quick little dog, he has his limitations but he is pretty handy and has now won 13 races,'' Gardoll said.
"Over Thinking was unplaced behind his then kennelmate Starline Express at Wentworth Park 12 months ago but while he is a better dog now, it is simply too far for me to travel to go back there with him.
"It's eight hours each way in the car but because I think he is ready to win over 520m I'll head to Albion Park with him next week.''
Meanwhile Starline Express, under new trainer David Geall, has reached Saturday night's final of the $100,000 to the winner Hobart Thousand.
"I'm not surprised he has qualified for that race because the 520m at Wentworth Park was just a bit too far for Starline Express, even though he won there for me in 29.91 and clocked 29.77 when run down by Victa Damian in the National Derby final.
"But a big one-turn track like Hobart and the 461m journey are made to order for Starline Express.''
Starline Express
Palawa King, who came from last to win the Group 1 Bold Trease over 715m at Sandown on December 2, returns to Sydney on Friday night but in a sprinting role at Wentworth Park.
The 2023 National Distance Championship winner will be chasing his sixth win in 21 Wentworth Park 520m appearances when he exits box four in a third and fourth-grade race.
His latest Wentworth Park 520m outing was in top grade so Palawa King looks well placed in Friday's event, where he should relish the small field of six, with his only hang-up likely to be the presence of his front-running kennelmate Red Hot Frankie positioned alongside him in box five.
