“The old bastard! I look after him every day and he never acts like that towards me.”
Rab McNair couldn’t supress a smile after King Elvis landed the RPGTV Golden Crest Final at Poole on Sunday.
Liz McNair’s 2017 Greyhound of the Year eventually beat Ace Queen by two and a quarter lengths in 26.70 for the 450 metres. Clash eventually completed the course but Snooty Mary sustained a broken hock.
Assistant trainer Rab McNair said: “My first thought is for Big Kevin and the bitch who was hurt. I was busy watching Elvis at the time and didn’t spot her. But I checked up afterwards and it seems she will be strapped up and kept for breeding. It is sad news but hopefully they have a great brood bitch still.”
As was mentioned in his column on this site previously, the Scotsman has been blown away by the friendliness of the locals with one young lad insisting on being taken racing to see his favourite hound. Harry Paxman even turned down a tennis lesson to watch Elvis perform and he was there when the dog arrived at the track.
Rab said: “As soon as he got out the car, he heard the young lad’s voice and started looking for him. He got so excited, was wagging his tail and started barking. I’ve never seen him act like that in his life.
“After the race we invited the young man to the podium and I sent him home with one of the two trophies that they presented to keep in his bedroom. Hopefully it will fire his interest and maybe he’ll be a trainer one day.
“I have to say that the whole operation at Poole was magnificent. They could not have tried harder to make us feel welcome and I can only thank them for making such a great night of it.
KING ELVIS (t6 4/6) wins the RPGTV Golden Crest Final from 28-1 shot Ace Queen (t2). Photo: © Steve Nash
The meeting also featured open races over all distances:
Swindon A2 runner SPITFIRE ROCKET (t2), made it five wins in his last seven races when returning at 16-1 for Terry Kibble in the sprint Photo: © Steve Nash
GENERAL JAMES (t5 left of shot) on his way to victory in the puppy open for June Harvey, with Pull The Trigger (t4) contesting first bend lead. It was the first win in the career of the September pup Photo: © Steve Nash
MOTTOS MOON strings them out in the Stayers, winning for Jamie Kingsley (whose Ace Queen later ran up to King Elvis in the Golden Crest Final) The winner’s time of 39.29 was the quickest over course and distance in the last nine months Photo: © Steve Nash
POOLE upstairs area, Golden Crest Final. Photo: © Steve Nash
