Pepe Morada will be among the outsiders for Friday night's $250,000 to the winner Ladbrokes 715 at The Gardens but her presence in the final will give 15-year-old year 10 student Brooke Dawson the thrill of a lifetime.
Pepe Morada was bred and is owned and trained by Brooke's father Anthony, who accomplished an outstanding training feat to win a 715 heat with his greyhound, who had not raced since Boxing Day last year.
Brooke Dawson is Pepe Morada's "co trainer" and handled and boxed her family's greyhound for last Friday night's heat win.
Brooke and Pepe Morada
"She will be in charge again for the final, why would I want to change a winning formula?'' quipped her dad Anthony.
On December 26 Pepe Morada finished third in a Ladbrokes Summer 700 Prelude at Gosford but after being pre-post favourite for the $25,000 to the winner January 3 final, she came in season on New Year's Eve and had to be scratched.
"She was three years old but had come in season for the first time,'' Anthony Dawson explained.
"It took her ages to get over it and when I was able to put her back into work she wasn't going at all well.
"Four weeks before her Ladbrokes 715 heat win you wouldn't have wanted to back her in a maiden race in the bush.
"But around a fortnight ago she started to come good so I gave her three trials at The Gardens, over 515m and 603m along with a 660m slip in case she suddenly went well enough to have a crack at the Ladbrokes 715.
"Her last trial was good so I threw a nomination in and she led all the way last Friday night."
"Pepe Morada got a bit tired in her heat win but the track was fairly heavy by the time her race was on, the dogs were getting right into the track surface.
"As Pepe Morada took 42.29 to win her heat while Magpie Hector was quickest at 41.51, our bitch is a front running stayer so has a chance, especially if the track is fast.
"If The Gardens officials need an industrial roller and some heat lamps to make sure the surface is dry I'll happily organise those for them.''
Pepe Morada is capable of improvement as she has won over 720m at Wentworth Park in 41.60 and 41.77, not much slower than Magpie Hector's personal best 41.51 at the track.
Pepe Morada turned three in February but has had only 15 starts for six wins.
She did not win her first race until her sixth appearance but put the writing on the wall with a near record 29.37 Richmond 520m win on October 22 last year.
Anthony Dawson bought Pepe Morada's dam Kylie Keeping after that greyhound received a "ticket" for marring during a race but that bold purchase has provided the western Sydney trainer a valuable brood bitch.
