Calypso Rogue, who was sidelined for over six months with a baffling wrist problem, is on the verge of a $50,000 payday after drawing perfectly in Friday night's Masters Meteor final at Wentworth Park.
Trainer Harry Norman is convinced Calypso Rogue is ideally positioned in box eight on Friday following his all the way heat win, from box five, in 29.70 last Thursday night.
Victorian Mepunga Smokey also led throughout when he set the time standard for the heats, stopping the clock at 29.58, while Zadie Bale came from behind to win her heat in 29.89.
But the draw looks to have tipped the scales in Calypso Rogue's favour, as pre-post favourite Mepunga Smokey has box three and will have to get around talented rising six-year-old Father Rick in box one and Shake It Off, an extremely wide runner, in box two.
Norman pointed out Calypso Rogue has had a chequered career after developing a mystery wrist problem.
"He beat a very fast dog, Sicario Beast, at Maitland in September, 2023, but after that he kept favouring his wrist when he finished a race.
"The source of the trouble had everyone stumped and in desperation I organised for a series of tests and procedures to be carried out by the veterinary department of Newcastle University.
"They were able to diagnose and cure the problem and while it wasn't cheap, costing me around $7000, it was money well spent to see Calypso Rogue back to his best."
"Since his return to the track Calypso Rogue, who cost me and my mate David Waddingham just $4000 as a puppy, has won 13 races.''
Norman, 66, is on the verge of retiring from his job at NSW Health, where he has worked for the past 34 years, following 12 years as a coal-miner.
But while he has only ever had a small team of greyhounds as a hobby, he was educated in the sport by none other than the legendary Charles "Chicka" Morris.
Morris, who trained over 6000 winners during the 1930s, '40s, '50s and early '60s, would fill a caravan with greyhounds and travel to racetracks up and down the east coast, often having six or more starters at each of three or four race meetings per week.
He was a shrewd punter and every summer would take up to 20 greyhounds to Tasmania, where dozens of bookmakers operated at the Hobart track.
Harry Norman explained: "Chicka's kennels were at Swansea, where my family lived, and from the age of 11 I earned pocket money before and after school by exercising his greyhounds.
"His instructions were very specific, I had to walk the dogs up and down the Swansea channel six times morning and night.
"Among the top notchers in my care were Tennessee Too, Mount Hall Flash and Mr Mount Hall, and I learned everything about dogs from Chicka.
"His credo was you had to have patience and get to know the different character of each greyhound.
"He always said 'you need to get inside a greyhound's head to get the best out of him' and I was with Chicka until I started training myself when I turned 17.
"Gunnadoo Ace, in June, 2007, gave me my first Wentworth Park winner but hopefully Calypso Rogue will be my biggest on Friday night.''
