Chevy Express will go into Wednesday's 53rd running of the Butch Monkley Memorial at Taree as favourite following his track record-breaking December 27 heat win, but he has thoroughly tested the patience of trainer Michael Manuel.
Racing in blinkers, Chevy Express exploded from box four to win his 300m heat in 17 seconds, blitzing his rivals by a dozen lengths.
That sizzling time did not surprise Michael Manuel or his wife Jody, who own and bred the 26-month-old black dog.
"In his first start, up the straight at Richmond on July 31, Chevy Express wanted to play during the race but still managed to finish second,'' Michael Manuel said.
"He received a 'ticket' for an unsatisfactory performance and then came out and clocked 18.02 in a clearance trial at Richmond on November 20.
"But that wasn't good enough to clear him so I decided he might concentrate better behind the mechanical, rather than the 'drag' lure, and also put blinkers on him.
"He was cleared when he clocked a near record 17.17 in his stewards' trial at Taree on December 10.
"Chevy Express has always been a fast dog, and I had been keen to get him into the Future Stars Maiden at Maitland after he clocked a very quick time in a slip there.
"Chevy Express has box five in Wednesday's Butch Monkley final and his chances depend on how well he jumps.
"Jody and I also have his brother Chevy The Beast, who won his heat in 17.50, in box seven in the final, but it would need a miracle for him to beat Chevy Express."
"I've always wanted to win the Butch Monkley as when it was run at Wauchope, I had Lilly's Chevy in the 2023 final and before that had qualified for the same race with Proper Chevy, who went on to win over 20 races.
"Lilly's Chevy had won her 384m heat in a fast 21.74 but was unplaced in the 21.81 final.
"The Butch Monkley was originally held at Wauchope, and I had an affinity for that track, winning the 2020 Wauchope Cup with Chevy Rock.''
Harold "Butch" Monkley, who passed away in 1970, was involved with greyhounds and was a stalwart of the Wauchope track in the 50s and 60s.
Chevy Express, who is related to the Manuels' 2020 Wauchope Cup winner Chevy Rock, is by super sire Bernardo from Red Hot Chevy.
"We bred Red Hot Chevy but sold her as a pup, and for Victorian owner-trainer Robin Moore she won 10 of 32 starts,'' Michael Manuel said.
"Jody and I got her back for breeding purposes, and her previous litter, by Kinloch Brae, included Make It Pop, a winner of 22 from 40 races.
"This Bernardo litter is even better, and Chevy Express is a litter brother to Tarawi Therese, who has won 19 from 26 starts for central coast breeder Lorraine Atchison and Victorian trainer Jason Thompson.
"Tarawi Therese won the final of the Healesville Cup and has earned over $85,000, while Flying Intention, another from the litter, has won six of 11 with Lockdown, trained by Jason Magri, having won six from 14 races.
"Jody and I also race their litter sister Tornado Chevy, who has won two from four starts and has recorded a flying 17.36 up the straight at Richmond.''
During several decades being staged at Wauchope, the Butch Monkley became among the most sought-after non-TAB events on the calendar.
With the closure of Wauchope the 50th staging of the race in 2022 was held at Grafton but has now found a home at Taree, just over 70km from its birthplace.
