Vincent's Young Gun A Star On The Rise

MATT Vincent was on his way home from Capalaba late Sunday when the phone rang.

It was gun Victorian trainer Anthony Azzopardi and he was indignant.

“Why can't I have that one,” was all Azzopardi would say to Matt when he answered the call.

“That one” is Hotel Whisky One and the greyhound by that name had just scorched to victory in a near record 19.45 when winning a heat of the Capalaba Young Guns (366m) upsetting boom youngster Golden Bear by three lengths.

The track record at Capalaba is 19.22.

Two weeks ago Matt had sent Hotel Whisky One's litter and kennelmates At My Command and Augustus Finch (Whiskey Riot-Flying September) to Azzopardi to be trained.

“I related to Anthony that he couldn't have Hotel Whisky One because he needs one on one attention,” said Matt.

“In fact, if he doesn't get that attention he will moan all day when left alone.

“Anthony said he didn't care how fast he was, he could not put up with that.”

Hotel Whisky One is named after Matt's call sign in the army.

Matt Vincent suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“Sometimes I think the stress of training greyhounds is worse,” he joked.

Hotel Whisky One was bred by Matt from 12-time winner Flying September, a daughter of Zabdon Ferrari and Little Jill.

“This dog is a freak,” said Matt.

“He snapped a toe on his off-side front foot back in November.

“I was worried he might never come back. But, at his first trial back he went 19.70 up Capalaba into a head wind.

“That's why he started $1.40 at his first start back, but he got into trouble.”

Despite the dog having unlimited ability, Matt admitted he thought he had a task against a classy line-up in Sunday's heat.

“The final field is so tough,” said Matt. “He's got the four box and ironically I had a dream only a couple of days ago that he drew box four in a race.

“I couldn't work out the dream because he had three in the heat. But, now he's got the four in next week's final.”

Matt reports the dam, Flying September, is due on Monday week to whelp a litter of pups by Feral Franky.

Other heats of the Young Guns were won by:

Royal Warren for Cyndie Elson in 19.68, Big Chief Size for Mick Vaughan in 19.66, Adjourned for Greg Stella in 19.57 and Lukey Valley for Dave Irwin in 19.78.

Young Guns Final (in box draw): 1 Adjourned, 2 Golden Bear, 3 Saanvi, 4 Hotel Whisky One, 5 Lukey Valley, 6 Royal Warren, 7 Red Ranger, 8 Big Chief Size. Res: 9 Daysea's Shelly, 10 Swift Bill.