A longtime friendship between Casino trainer Tyson Barton and champion Victorian mentor Kel Greenough is the catalyst behind straight track sensation's Mile A Minute's appearance in Thursday afternoon's heats of the Listed Richmond Straight Cup (324m).
"Kel trained a very good bitch called So Seductive for me a few years ago and we've been good mates ever since," Barton explained.
"Kel, Jackie (wife) and Brad (grandson) are just lovely people."
So Seductive was an outstanding stayer, winning the Group 1 Bold Trease at Sandown Park in 2010, but the greyhound that has rekindled the Barton/Greenough racing bond is at the other end of the distance spectrum.
Mile A Minute has been the dominant force in Australian straight track racing over the past two years.
While trained in Victoria by Brad Greenough, Mile A Minute won the 2024 and 2025 G3 National Straight Track Championships.
The son of Superior Panama and Medio Paso won the G2 Healesville Cup in 2024 and was only beaten half a length when runner-up in last year's Cup.
Mile A Minute boasts an imposing 31 from 57 career record, however his form at Healesville is phenomenal.
He's won 18 from 24 over 350m at an incredible 75 per cent strike rate, and while he turns four in March, he broke Healesville's 350m record in November, running 18.60.
Considering his resume, Mile A Minute will add enormous interest to Thursday's afternoon's heats of the Richmond Straight Cup.
It will be Mile A Minute's NSW debut, as well as his first start for Tyson Barton, who's been training since 2017, celebrating G1 glory just on two years ago when Fahey's Magic won the Golden Sands.
"I've only had Mile A Minute for about two weeks," Barton explained.
"The Richmond race wasn't a plan. I didn't even realise it was on!
"Kel asked me if I wanted to take him and race him around The Q or Capalaba because there wasn't a lot on for him in Victoria.
"Then I saw the Richmond Cup and thought why not have a go at it.
"I haven't had a chance to trial him at Richmond, but I spoke to Kel about it and he didn't think it would worry him. He goes really good behind the drag too."
Drawn in box eight in the second of three heats, Mile A Minute is $2.80 favourite, ahead of Allan Keeping (box 7) at $3.30.
"If he gets the start right, the seven (Allan Keeping) comes out and goes towards the middle, so he should get clear air early," Barton said.
"I'm just hoping he gets through to the final.
"He's getting on a bit but he's still going as good as ever. He broke the Healesville record two or three starts ago.
"He's an absolute gentleman too. It's a pleasure to have him."
Peter Lagogiane's star short-courser Badger's Beast (box 2) dominates betting on the opening heat at $1.50, making his first appearance since September 1.
Winner of 29 from 41, the son of Beast Unleashed is taking aim at a tenth straight victory, his streak including the G3 Grafton Cup (450m), Grafton Thunderbolt and Richmond Cannonball (410m).
Lagogiane has another odds-on favourite in the third and final heat, also drawn in two, in Shot Of Magic at $1.22, which has won six from seven up the Richmond straight.
