A bond spanning over three decades between a country breeder and a south coast trainer was maintained when Tiggerlong Snow scored an impressive all-the-way win at Nowra on Thursday night.
Wagga breeder Michael Finn has been sending greyhounds to Dapto trainer Kevin Keys for 35 years and Tiggerlong Snow continued the successful partnership with a fast 29.67 for the 520m trip, boosting his record to four wins from five starts.
Despite being so impressive, Tiggerlong Snow won't be rushed back to Wentworth Park, where he won his maiden race on debut.
"He has a couple of fifth grades at the provincials left for him so I'll be taking my time,'' Kevin Keys said.
"Tiggerlong Snow doesn't turn two until January and is still very much a puppy, totally immature.
"Michael and Helen Finn have been sending greyhounds to my wife Margaret and myself for over three decades and we have always sealed every deal with a hand-shake, nothing more.
"They have become family friends and now we often take holidays together.''
Tiggerlong Snow
Finn's ubiquitous "Tiggerlong" dogs usually arrive at the Keys' south coast kennels after having a few races at tracks like Wagga but Tiggerlong Snow created such a good early impression he was dispatched while still unraced.
"Yes, he did break in very well,'' Kevin Keys said.
Like most of the Finn greyhounds, Tiggerlong Snow is a true home-grown product, as he was produced by Tiggerlong Grace, who won 20 of 106 races for the Wagga-based breeders.
She was a daughter of the Finns' Tiggerlong Dot, who won 20 of 76 for Kevin Keys, and whose mother and grand-dam were Tiggerlong Petal and Tiggerlong Olive, were both owned by the Riverina breeders.
Tiggerlong Snow
Barry Gibbons, who won last year's Peter Mosman Opal with Tulsi Banner, has no regrets about selling Warren's Ledger, a brilliant fifth grade winner over 350m at Goulburn last Friday.
Warren's Ledger led throughout to win a maiden over the same course for new owner-trainer Geoff "Choc" Curtale on October 31, clocking a slick 19.75, before coming from second early to win Friday's fifth grade in 19.78.
On October 17 Warren's Ledger had set up a huge early lead in the consolation final of the Million Dollar Chase Maiden over 520m at Wentworth Park, reeling off fast splits of 5.43 and 13.77, before being run down and beaten a head by Wyndra All Smoke in 30.23.
"After that race Geoff Curtale made me a good offer for Warren's Ledger and it came at a time when I needed to make room for new dogs coming into my kennels,'' Gibbons said.
"And since Warren's Ledger has been winning I've had a few calls from people asking if I had any more to sell, so it's good public relations to show you don't sell duds.''
Warren's Ledger
"Choc" Curtale was the original owner of top-class stayer I'm Sally, but because she was exceedingly timid, he gifted her to Rebecca Edenborough, as a thank you for how she had assisted the greyhound's dam, Vicki Keeping, as she whelped her litter to Fernando Bale.
I'm Sally has become one of NSW's top stayers and won eight 720m races at Wentworth Park, but Curtale remains one of the most astute owners and trainers in the sport.
He was once derided when he refused a $35,000 offer for a modestly performed dog named What A Tease, but had the last laugh when the greyhound won 13 races and earned $95,000 prizemoney, landing some good bets in the process.
Curtale added: "And What A Tease broke down when I was about to put him over 720m so he had the potential to earn another $100,00.''
