Late Night News and Lady Wilson proved they are worthy NSW candidates for next Saturday night's National Distance Championship in Brisbane by providing the quinella in Saturday's top grade 720m event at Wentworth Park.
Lady Wilson had led all the way to defeat Late Night News in the NSW Distance Championship at Wentworth Park on August 14 but on Saturday those placings were reversed.
Lady Wilson jumped in front from box five and set up a clear early lead but was stalked all the way by Late Night News, who finished determinedly down the outside to prevail by a length in a nippy 41.79.
After the race Caroline Hughes, trainer of Late Night News, said: "Tonight he was back doing what he used to do, jumping better and then hunting up along the rails.
"He will now have a quiet week and I will drive him to Brisbane on Saturday morning for the Championship final at The Q that night.''
Father Rick turns six on December but nobody remembered to remind the marvellous old campaigner as the Ray Webster-trained dog led throughout to take out the top grade Masters race in a flying 29.66 for the 520m.
Those figures were a mere .04sec outside Father Rick's personal best Wentworth Park time, posted in May, 2024.
Casari, one of the most consistent greyhounds to race at Wentworth Park this year, took her tally at the track to three wins and 10 placings and lifted her earnings to over $46,000 when she came from third early to win a 520m fifth grade on Saturday in 29.90.
Casari, who had box one, was once a flawless beginner but she was only third away on Saturday before railing underneath early leaders Fascinate Maria and Rev On Reggie to hit the front on the back straight.
After the race trainer Shannon Boyd said: "Earlier in her career Casari was a foolproof beginner but lately she has been getting too excited when placed in the starting boxes and dwelling slightly at the start.
"She got a bit of help tonight because her kennelmate Fascinate Maria, who is a wide runner and who had box two, led early and moved away from the rails to give Casari room to move.''
Boyd trains Casari for Tim Phillips, whose seven year old daughter invariably presents the greyhound with a handful of arrowroot biscuits after she races.
Trainer Peter Rodgers believes he may have found the key to winning with Classic Ethics after the dog finished fast along the rails to score a head win over Zipping Zodiac in a handy 29.79 on Saturday night.
"Just before he raced at Wentworth Park on August 16, Classic Ethics clocked 23.63 in a post-to-post hand-slip at Wenty, absolutely sensational time,'' trainer Rodgers said.
"Yet he came out a few nights later and was beaten in his race so since then I have not trialled him, have not done anything with him, and it seems he races a lot better when kept very fresh.''
Trunkey Shearer completed a winning hat-trick for 18-year-old trainer Billy Godden with an easy win in 30.00 in a 520m fifth grade.
"He is only just fulfilling the promise Trunkey Shearer showed early in his career,'' Godden said.
But the trainer added: "In September I will have to go to Wagga to prepare for my career in the Royal Australian Air Force so I will only be able to train greyhounds until then.''
Betty Emgrand notched her first Wentworth Park win in 18 attempts when she ran down pacemaker Zipping Admiral to win Saturday's opening race by a nose in 30.28.
After the race trainer Luke Azzopardi said: "Box one helped Betty Emgrand tonight, she is much better when drawn on the rails.
"She is no star but is honest, has a bit of early pace and is a good chaser,'' Azzopardi said.
"I am 75 and training my team of six keeps me going, keeps me interested and forces me to get up in the morning.''
Biggest upset of the night came in race seven, a fourth and fifth grade 520m race, when $51 rank outsider Royal Panama led throughout in a slick 29.78.
Before the race trainer Ashley Dwyer commented: "I think Royal Panama is harshly graded, I reckon he was entitled to be in a Battlers' race, but he might surprise everyone and lead all the way.''
Training honours for the night went to Late Night News' trainer Caroline Hughes, who landed a double when My Athena charged along the rails to win a 520m fifth grade by a head in 30.14.
