Michael Ivers, who has bred, owned and trained a succession of top liners over the past 30 years, notably Tornado Tears and Trojan Tears, is "winding down" but believes Great Terms could be one of his best.
Great Terms, by Goodesy from Empress Tears, made his debut in a heat of the Wentworth Park Maiden series last Thursday night and took the lead at the first turn before beating his sole rival by 19 lengths.
While Great Terms' time of 29.80 for the 520m was well outside Gold Force's blistering 29.42 best of the night figures, Ivers revealed the dog can go much faster.
"He trialled 29.23 at Wentworth Park before last Thursday's race but he was unsettled all day and very anxious and 'over the top' when kennelled and going to the boxes,'' Ivers said.
Great Terms
"I believe he is capable of breaking the record of 29.03 when he matures.
"I only have four dogs left on my property because Chris Perry, my offsider for many years, has left due to ill health and I am not well either.
"Taking Great Terms to the boxes last Thursday nearly killed me because I can hardly walk, I suffer from achilles tendon trouble, gout, and policeman's foot, a nickname for a common condition which causes excruciating heel pain.
"This dog is a real handful so Jeff Holland, who is part-owner of Great Terms, will handle the dog for me when the Maiden Final is held at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.''
Tornado Tears won six group one races and over $1 million in stakes, while Trojan Tears achieved the rare honour of being named Greyhound of the Year for 1993 in both NSW and Queensland.
Great Terms is closely related to that duo through his dam Empress Tears, a member of the famous dam line Ivers has created.
Great Terms
Bad Boy Leroy, who took his record to three starts for three wins for trainer Allen Williams at Richmond last Friday, was originally trained by famous Victorian conditioner Kel Greenough.
When he won over 320m at Richmond on Friday, Bad Boy Leroy was fourth away but soon hit the front and won in 18.01, which compared well with Sicario Beast's track record of 17.83.
Greenough, whose roll call of top liners includes Wow She's Fast, also trained She's Got Wheels, the dam of Bad Boy Leroy.
"She won three of only four starts and I was convinced she was going to be a Melbourne Cup bitch until she damaged a stopper bone and had to be retired,'' Greenough said.
"Allen Williams has been buying greyhounds from me for a couple of years now and after he bought one that looked good but did not fulfil its early promise, I pledged to look for another for him.
"When Bad Boy Leroy was educated he was clocking fast times at tracks like Sandown so I called Allen and told him I had the right dog for him.
"He purchased Bad Boy Leroy when he was 18 months old so I'm absolutely delighted the dog is going so well.''
