Flemings Eye More Egg Night ‘Magic'

GOLDEN Easter Egg night has a special place in the heart of Annette and Shayne Fleming.

Not due to success in the once richest contest in the greyhound racing world but moreover for the memories held from 2015 when Flash Earner secured the Listed Ultra Sense – one of six feature races on NSW's night of nights.

The husband and wife team, based at Pheasants Nest on five acres, are the epitome of greyhound racing's hobbyists.

Shayne, a metal fabricator, is the son of John Fleming – trainer of 1993 Melbourne Cup winner Silver Chisel.

John Fleming passed away 10 years back and Shayne's entry into greyhound racing is solely due to his dad's legacy.

"Annette and I both work full time so we really just have our own dogs, pups we breed and rear at home," the affable Fleming said.

"Winning the Ultra Sense with ‘Hopey' was a great thrill and her son ‘Ned' (Flash Mulcher) – from her first litter by Kinloch Brae – is racing on the same night four years later.

"He's only a young dog – I suppose they all are in this maiden final – but he's well drawn and has a good turn of speed.

"From day one he showed genuine promise and this is a real thrill but we know it's not going to be easy – just look at the opposition.”

Flash Mulcher gets his name from his desire to chew bark as a puppy.

"He was always in the paddock sitting under a large gumtree. At first we thought it was just smart – sitting in the shade but there was more to it.

"He just devoured any shed of bark in sight and I can assure you it was not due to hunger," Fleming beamed.

The female line Fleming boasts is closely tied with Lil' Miss Flash (Vapour Whirl – Silver Rachel) – the dam of the brilliant That's Lil Vicki – now in pup to Ritza Lenny, while Flash Touareg (an unraced litter sister to Flash Earner) is to be mated with Swift Fancy shortly.

"Lil' Miss Flash also comes from mum and dad's bloodline and it makes it a little more special that all the pups, not just ours but many we have sold, have gone on to do good things.

"We only keep a few pups from any one litter and we cheer for all of them as though their our own."

Incredibly, six siblings – Dreamin' Is Free, Really Unreal, Blanco Caliente, Blue Summer Sky, Timeless Moment and Making A Memory (Barcia Bale – Chica Destacada) – do battle against Flash Mulcher and His Ticking (Barcia Bale – Lover's Quarrel) in the $25,000 to the winner Magic Maiden Final on Saturday.

From box eight, Ned will get his chance. He's off his crazy bark diet and there is a sense of déjà vu about this big night.