Greg Hore was so fond of his New Zealand greyhound Soaring Hawke that when he returned to NSW after a stint training across the Tasman, he brought the winner of nine races with him.
Hore's affection for Soaring Hawke has been a financial bonanza for the trainer, as she not only won another 17 races here, retiring with 26 wins and 49 placings from 133 races, but as a brood bitch she has been a revelation.
Soaring Hawke's two litters, to Feral Franky and then to Wow, have amassed over $350,000 for Hore, with Astro Lee and Big Zach, who are racing in Queensland, earning another $77,800.
"When I came back to Australia in 2019 I brought Soaring Hawke with me and while her offspring have not been superstars, all but one of them has been able to stay and they have picked up plenty of prizemoney,'' Hore said.
"From Soaring Hawke's first litter to Feral Franky I trained Monster Mel, Goulburn Girl, Gentle Gemma, Cassie Cool and Hannah Hawke, while from her next litter, to Wow, I have Siska Lucy, Siska Roy, Siska Tommy and On The Razzle.
On The Razzle
"On The Razzle can't stay but the others have all racked up a stack of placings and a few wins over long distances, especially at Wentworth Park.
"My Soaring Hawkes have won just one race since Christmas but they have consistently been in the money at Wenty and the prizemoney is so good these days that it soon adds up.
"Monster Mel was undoubtedly the quickest of Soaring Hawke's progeny but she was not a keen chaser, she tended to turn her head at times.
"But she could really run when she wanted to so I plan to breed from her because bitches like that often make successful producers.''
Monster Mel
Father Rick, the greyhound who refused to be retired, lifted his earnings to over $335,000 with a come-from-behind win at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
Trained by Ray Webster for his wife Sharron, who bred the dog, Father Rick covered the 520m in 29.86, just .24sec outside his personal best Wenty figures posted 14 months ago.
After Father Rick turned five in December, the Websters decided he had earned a life of luxury at their Camden property.
"But every time we moved the van which transports our greyhounds, Father Rick would go berserk, barking and wanting to be part of the action again.
"So we brought him back in a 340m race at Bulli early in May and while he won that I thought he could be under-done on Saturday night.
"I trialled Father Rick over 400m at Dapto on Monday and his run home time was as good, if not better, than the fastest he has ever clocked.
"I felt he needed another trial midweek but rain washed out that option which is why we were worried he might get tired at the end of 520m on Saturday.
"But he managed to still win and it is greyhounds like Father Rick which make you want to be part of this sport.''
