A social visit by Luddenham trainer John Callaughan to the kennels of leading trainers Jodie and Andy Lord resulted in Sydney solicitor Michael Taylor landing his first Wentworth Park winner as an owner in nearly a decade when Cawbourne Zara scored on Saturday night.
While at the Lords' Gunning complex Callaughan happened to mention he was looking to buy a dog for his long-time pal Taylor and came away with Cawbourne Zara as a new acquisition to his kennels.
On Saturday night Cawbourne Zara, having her first Wentworth Park start for the Callaughan-Taylor combination, led throughout to win a 520m fifth grade by two lengths in a handy 29.84.
After the race owner Michael Taylor said: "My previous Wenty winner was Henson Hill in June, 2017, while before that it would have been Smoke Da Tubby in October, 2010.
"I bought my first greyhound while I was still at high school in 1973, purchasing the greyhound from the legendary breeder Allen Wheeler, father of the late owner-breeder Paul Wheeler.
"I haven't had a lot of luck with my dogs since but I'm only in it for fun and Cawbourne Zara has now raced four times for me, picking up four cheques, although tonight's was her first win.''
Tyrone Hardman, the 15-year-old son of successful Goulburn trainer Michael Hardman, had a dream fulfilled when his dad's dog Villified won Saturday's opening race in a moderate 30.31.
Hardman senior said later: "Tyrone led out Villified and put him in the boxes tonight and because he had not previously boxed a Wentworth Park winner, he was desperate to achieve that goal before the track closes in mid-October.
"I must admit Villified had some luck tonight because he was blessed with a miraculous rails run on the first turn.
"He was running third when the pacemaker Fantasy Ethics speared off the track and collided with the second greyhound and our dog sailed to the lead.''
David Smith, trainer of Fantasy Ethics, more than made up for that misfortune by training four winners on Saturday night at Wentworth Park.
Smith scored with Super Sassy, a daughter of his 2022 National Distance Championship winner Super Estrella, along with litter siblings Flash Ethics, Radiant Ethics and Shirley's Ethics.
Super Sassy scored in 29.48 while Flash Ethics, a son of Smith's former Dapto 729m record holder White Sox Ethics, produced the fastest time of the night 29.36 performance.
Flash Ethics' litter sister Radiant Ethics won a later race in 29.70, her personal best Wentworth Park figures, while a third sibling, Shirley's Ethics, broke 30sec for the first time at Wentworth Park when she ran down kennelmate Fancy Pay Cheque to win in 29.90.
Smith's quartet of winners gave the Elderslie trainer his most successful night at Wentworth Park, while Jodie Lord, who sold Cawbourne Zara to Michael Taylor, came away with a winning double in Cawbourne Ozzy in 29.72 and Sin City Bandit, an easy winner in Saturday's sole 720m event.
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