Jonathon Crocker has only two greyhounds in work but the hobby trainer from Coolamon, 480km south-west of Sydney, not only landed his first city winner but achieved the quinella in Saturday night's opening race at Wentworth Park.
Crocker, 40, has been a trainer for only two years and is a full-time employee with Transport for NSW, a job which entails plenty of travelling.
But his bitch Aunty Meeka took out a 520m fifth grade on Saturday night, running down her kennelmate Rowan, who led for the first 250m, to win by two lengths in a slick 29.74.
After the race a relieved Crocker disclosed that he almost did not reach WP in time for kennelling.
"My dog trailer blew a bearing near Yass and I was stranded,'' Crocker said.
"I phoned a mate and luckily he was home and was not using his trailer, so he drove to Yass where I swapped Aunty Meeka and Rowan into his trailer and we got to Wenty with only a couple of minutes to spare.
"I owe that mate of mine a beer.
"Rowan had not raced at WP and had just one trial on the track so when Aunty Meeka was sitting behind him on the back straight I expected her to run him down.
"Even more so as Rowan races wide so I knew he would leave the rails and give her a clear run along the inside.''
Total Faith will be set for the October 9 heats of the $50,000 to the winner Masters Meteor following his impressive all-the-way win in 29.83 in a 520m fifth grade on Saturday night.
Total Faith, who turned four in April, won a Masters race at WP in July but trounced all-aged rivals on Saturday, winning by four lengths.
After the race trainer Alan Clare said: "He trialled very well recently on his home track at Wagga so I knew he was ready to go well tonight.
"Although Total Faith is in the veteran class this breed tends to get better with age.
"And I've looked after him, I have not over-raced the dog.''
Star of the meeting was once again Jodie Lord's wonderful bitch Taormina, who took her WP tally to eight wins from her past nine starts, with a start to finish win in the top grade 520m race.
Taormina jumped in front from box four and was chased all the way by the Jason Magri-trained Allan Keeping, scoring by two lengths in a sizzling 29.40.
Taormina's win gave Jodie Lord a winning double, as her Goulburn Zoom Top Maiden Classic winner Classy Bandit scored her fourth win from six starts in an easy 29.90 victory in a 520m fifth grade.
Not far behind Taormina on the clock on Saturday was Natina Howard's Zipper On Time, who led all the way from the Jodie Lord-trained She's Fearless for a two lengths win in 29.61.
Zipper On Time, who is only 22 months old, has now won each of her three WP appearances in remarkably consistent fashion, clocking 29.61 on debut on August 28 before recording 29.63 on September 4.
