Lynn and Michael Maney were delighted to simply have their two nominations Fine Shine and Irinka Alana, drawn in the heats, so they are absolutely "over the moon" at seeing them both qualify for Sunday's $40,000 to the winner GBOTA Temora Cup final.
Fine Shine, described by Lynn as clearly the faster of the pair, has drawn box one, while Irinka Alana, who possesses great early pace and is a fierce chaser, has box four.
"The biggest win we have had as trainers was in 1996 when we won the Launceston Cup with Two Codes, which we trained for the famous Tasmanian owner-trainer Butch Deverell,'' Lynn said.
"So maybe after exactly three decades we are going to win another big one.''
In last week's heats Fine Shine came from last at the first turn to finish second, beaten four lengths, by He's A Pearl, who covered the 457m in 25.53.
Irinka Alana made the pace to the home bend before being run down and beaten a similar margin by Eriza Sparkles in 25.42, fastest time of the heats.
"Fine Shine had box one, his draw in the final, when he won at Temora in 25.49 last month, so he is capable of putting the time on the board.
"Irinka Alana is not as quick but is a great littler chaser and has plenty of early pace, as she showed when she led Eriza Sparkles in her heat.
"We bought Irinka Alana, as a performed bitch, from our friend Jack Smith, the trainer of Feral Franky, Jungle Deuce, Palawa King and Magpie Hector.
"But Michael and I purchased Fine Shine as a puppy from his breeder Glen Quirk.
"We had followed the career of Fine Shine's dam Prancing Diva, who won a dozen races for Ricky and Caitlyn Brewer, so when she whelped a litter to Shima Shine two years ago we bought three of her pups.
Fine Shine is a son of Shima Shina x Prancing Diva
"One died after being bitten by a snake, another has won a race, but Fine Shine is obviously the pick.
"Michael and I trained greyhounds in the 70s, 80s and 90s when we lived in Tasmania, but moved to NSW in 1999 when I landed the job as secretary-manager of the Bathurst Harness Racing Club.
"We immediately loved living in NSW, at a little place called Wimbledon, near Blayney and west of Bathurst.
"Michael's father was a greyhound trainer and my grandmother trained them too so it was only natural we both became involved in the sport.
"And our daughters, Bec and Lisa, who are grown up with kids of their own, also help us with the dogs, especially when we have to be away from the kennels at race meetings.
"But the girls love coming to the races and while they both work at Bathurst Hospital, they are hoping their rosters on Sunday permit them to make the three hour trip to Temora to see our dogs contest the Cup.''
