Chad Taylor, who became a licensed greyhound trainer exactly one month ago, landed his third winner from three starters when Chad's Girl led throughout over 411m at Casino last Thursday.
Taylor won first-up with Chad's Girl over the 411m trip there on February 12 in 23.28, repeated the performance a week later in 23.20 and won again last Thursday, this time in 23.36.
Taylor, whose sister Holly Taylor trains the talented Mr Field, a winner of 10 from 27 races, now plans to prepare Chad's Girl for the heats of The Cheeto, over 400m at The Gardens on March 14.
The fifth-grade sprint, named in honour of the legendary trainer, the late Ken Cheetham, will culminate with a $5000 to the winner final on March 21.
"My grandfather Ron Ulrick was a great friend of Kenny Cheetham, so he would dearly love to see me win a race named after his pal,'' Chad Taylor said.
Ron Ulrick trained Go Bears, who won 30 races and earned $212,500 from 2022 to 2025 while Ken Cheetham trained the 1964 National Derby winner Flying Myobb.
Chad Taylor with Chad's Girl | Photo: Lisa Vanderstok
Cheetham, who was based in the NSW Hunter Valley, also prepared NSW Greyhound of the Year award winners How's The Fort (1992) and Take The Kitty (2009).
Cheetham, a much loved figure in NSW greyhound racing, passed away in June, 2023, after a long illness.
Chad Taylor said: "I plan to take Chad's Girl to The Gardens for a trial on the track this Friday.
"I have never wanted to be anything except a greyhound trainer, I left school after year 10 and work full-time at John Martin's breaking-in establishment at Casino.''
Chad's Girl | Photo: Lisa Vanderstok
Meanwhile as Chad's Girl, who has won seven of 17 races is at the beginning of her career, Blazing Raso and Solo Fernando have been retired.
Blazing Raso, a daughter of Shima Shine and Spritley Ebony, was to launch her career in Masters races next month but came in season when about to contest a trial.
Her trainer Blake Moroney said: "I contemplated letting her run through the season before putting her back into work but decided to breed with her from a Fernando Bale straw I have.
"I was prompted to send her to the breeding barn when her litter brother Canya All Class was recently retired after winning 20 of 45 races and earning $270,000.
"Blazing Raso was a good race bitch, who ran sub-30sec four times at Wentworth Park and clocked a sizzling 35.52 when chasing home Zipping Xaden over 620m at Richmond.''
Blazing Raso
Also retired this week, but as a house pet, is the grand old stager Solo Fernando.
Owner-trainer Logan Howden, a roof tiler from Budgewoi, decided to call time on Solo Fernando ("Jimmy") after the dog finished seventh at Gosford on February 17.
Solo Fernando, who turned five on January 16, contested 172 races for 35 wins, 29 seconds and 34 thirds, earning an impressive $92,580.
When Howden was presented with the dog as a gift he became Solo Fernando's fifth trainer.
"Jimmy" as he is affectionately known, is the first greyhound Howden has owned, and was kept in trim with regular swimming at Swansea and in Chain Valley Bay, Lake Macquarie.
Solo Fernando was placed in four of his last six races, scored his last win over 388m at Gosford in a slick 22.15 in December, and broke 30sec for the Wentworth Park 520m trip.
