Truckie Bill Keeps The Winners Coming

09:29 27 October 2024
GRNSW News
Bill Knibbs was a truck driver wanting to take up training greyhounds as a hobby when he paid $5000 for Aston Coup as an unraced two-year-old and that first purchase produced another winner for him at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.

Knibbs has won 10 races, three of them at Wentworth Park with Aston Coup's son Knighted Kaos, and on Saturday that dog's litter brother Knighted Storm took the lead on the back straight to score his second Wenty win, taking out a 520m fifth grade in 30.05.

Even better for Knibbs, Knighted Buzz, a third member of his Aston Rupee-Aston Coup litter, filled third place behind Knighted Storm.

Aston Coup won only three races, all at Richmond, but she has given the now full-time greyhound trainer a massive boost.

"I had to give up driving trucks because with my commitments with the dogs it was just too tiring, I was worried I was going to fall asleep at the wheel,'' Knibbs said.

"I liked Aston Coup's bloodlines, she is by Black Magic Opal from Aston Chanel, and I bought her unraced from the famous SA breeder Ray Borda.

"Aston Coup was the first greyhound I bought so for $5000 she has turned out a good purchase.''


Blue Mountains trainer Greg Sutherland declared Screaming Violet the best greyhound he has trained after she notched her 11th win in 20 starts at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.

Despite racing wide, Screaming Violet led throughout to win clearly from heavily backed favourite Total Faith in a smart 29.78 in a 520m fifth grade.

"Until this bitch came along, I thought Smart Fernando, who won 17 races for me between 2020 and 2022, was the best dog I was ever likely to have,'' Sutherland said on Saturday night.

"But Screaming Violet is definitely better.

"She gives ground away because she is inclined to get off the track, especially on the first turn, but she is a good bitch.

"I bred her by mating Rema's Amber with Aussie Infrared and kept the entire litter.

"Actually Screaming Violet's litter brother Shadow Cash, who has won three races at the provincials, is as quick as his sister.

"Shadow Cash can trial as fast as Screaming Violet but he is not as smart as she is in a field.''


Witty Ethics' brilliant mid-race speed was a major factor in her easy all-the-way win at her Wentworth Park debut in a 520m fifth grade on Saturday night.

Witty Ethics began fast from box eight and posted a dazzling second split of 13.77 before scoring by nearly four lengths in a handy 29.92.

After the race her trainer David Smith said: "When I trialled her at Wentworth Park before tonight she clocked a reasonable 30.25 but her run home time was awful.

"Her mid-race pace is terrific but even tonight, although she broke 30sec for the 520m, her run home was only a moderate 12.04.

"Hopefully she will become stronger after another run or two over the 520m.''


Meniketti took his Wentworth Park tally to an impressive four wins from eight appearances for Wagga trainer Peter Sims when he won a 520m fifth grade on Saturday in 29.83.

The David Smith-trained Awesome Ethics led going into the first bend but Meniketti drove through along the rails, and virtually pushed the pacemaker out of the way before comfortably holding off a late bid from favourite Toodles Jack to win by just over two lengths.

Races five to 10 had to be abandoned due to water problems.