She weights in at a whippet-like 23.5kg and at break-in was deemed too timid to succeed on a racetrack and was given away, but on Thursday night at Wentworth Park, I'm Sally produced one of the most impressive staying debut wins in years.
When she led throughout for a nine lengths win in a nippy 42.28 for the 720m, I'm Sally, at 22 months among the youngest long-distance winners at Wentworth Park, gave her owner-trainer Rebecca Edenborough her first success at the track.
I'm Sally was bred and originally owned by well-known Cowra trainer Geoff "Choc" Curtale, who raced her dam Vicki Keeping, winner of a 720m race at Wentworth Park in 2017 in a slow 43.14.
When Vicki Keeping was due to give birth to a litter by Fernando Bale in January 2023, "Choc" asked Edenborough, the wife of his long-time friend, fellow trainer Rodney McDonald, to whelp the pups on his behalf.
But by the time one of the pups from the litter, bearing the kennel name Sally, was educated, Curtale was so frustrated by the tiny youngster's timorous nature, he asked Edenborough if she would like to take her as a gift.
After her win at Wentworth Park, when she was having her first start beyond 605m and her first look at the track, Edenborough said: "She has responded to a lot of love and affection and while she still tends to be a bit shy she has a massive personality.
"Due to her kennel-name being Sally I registered her racing name as I'm Sally because she really lets the other five dogs in my kennels know she is around.
"If another greyhound dares step onto her bedding, I'm Sally barks her disapproval, and once when I put her into a different kennel at home, she went on a hunger strike, refusing to eat for a couple of days until I returned her to her previous accommodation.''
"Choc" Curtale was as thrilled with his giveaway's win as Rebecca Edenborough and said: "I think I'm Sally can go a couple of tenths quicker because through not having seen the track she seemed to hesitate a little going through the catching pen.
"When I'm Sally was educated she drove me mad, she was so timid and was always under my feet, so I told Rebecca I thought the greyhound needed a woman's touch.
"That's when I decided to present her to Rebecca.''
Lucky Blue Book went within .20sec of Bandit Jane's track record when she won "first up" over 600m at Dapto on Thursday and, along with her three litter siblings, Ayden's Warrior, King Tide, and Law Book, she is destined for a career as a stayer.
Although the Jodie Lord-trained quartet are still considered "babies" they will have tackled staying trips by the time the rich Ladbrokes 715 is held at The Gardens on May 2, the date of their second birthday.
Lord's husband Andy said: "Book Of Luck, the mother of King Tide, Ayden's Warrior, Lucky Blue Book and Law Book, can certainly throw a stayer.
"Greyhounds don't need to be a certain age to tackle long distances, it is actually better to test their stamina when they are young because they are more fearless at that stage.
"Old time trainers reckoned they needed to be two-and-a-half or three to go over 720m but that is rubbish.
"Lucky Blue Book was impressive last Thursday but King Tide, who ran 34.25 winning a 600m race at Dapto last month, will be the first to go over 720m, but Ayden's Warrior is the best of the quartet, he is a real race dog.''
