FROM an outdoor area at home to a new car, Knight Sprite’s success on the track has already done so much for Hexham hobby trainer Gayle Masterson.
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But his two group 2 wins in the past three months and more than $140,000 in prizemoney will pale in comparison if the black dog can complete a fairytale rise with victory in the $250,000-to-the-winner Golden Easter Egg (520 metres) final on Saturday night at Wentworth Park.
“If he wins this one, I’ll probably pay the house off … and renovate inside,” Masterson said. “This is just a dream. It’s something that you’d love to be in and I have to keep pinching myself that he’s actually made it.”
As well as the financial gain, Masterson believed a win would give her and Knight Sprite a special place in Hunter racing.
“It would be great to bring the Golden Egg back to the Hunter,” she said. “I don’t think anyone from the Hunter has been close before.
“My husband’s uncle, Jerry Masterson, had Golden Milo in the final two years in a row [sixth 1998, seventh 1999] but he wasn’t able to do it, so I’m hoping I can do it for them this year.”
Knight Sprite, which will jump from box five and was a $9 chance on Friday, qualified for the group 1 final with a neck second to Moreira in the semi-final last Saturday, which followed a second to Jason Mackay’s Duna Runa in the heats.
Those runs followed victory in the group 2 Richmond Derby on March 4. The three-year-old gave Materson her first elite level success when winning the group 2 Gosford Cup on New Year’s Day.
Masterson worked Knight Sprite at the Redhead training track on Tuesday and believed the son of Magic Sprite was primed to challenge for the win “as long as he jumps like he normally jumps”.
“He’ll be a little bit stronger this week after having that extra run,” she said.
“I freshened him up the week before because I think he was a bit flat from the Richmond runs and the heats. I just didn’t run him at all between the heats and the semis. This week he’s back to his normal routine so I think he’ll be fine.”
While Masterson conceded her nerves were “not real good” leading into the race, she said the large crowd and fanfare of the Golden Easter Egg would not faze her relaxed charge.
She was hopeful that with some luck and a trademark fast start, the dog known as “Ollie” would be in the finish.
“I think he’s got to be in front of all of them at the start because they are all very good dogs,” she said.
“Jason Thompson said coming out of box one will improve his dog [Moreira], but he’s still not a fast beginner, and neither is Brad Hill Billy [in box two] or the three [Rare Pearl], and the four [Dawkins Bale] likes to get over to the rails.
“So if they all jump around the same and the four’s going to go to the rail and cross them. Ollie goes straight, so he could be the first to go.
“It just depends on how they all jump.
“They only pipped him on the post last week and that’s the dog they reckon is going to win.”
Regardless of the result, Masterson was keen to savour one of greyhound racing’s biggest nights.
“All the family are going down on a mini-bus and they are going to the dinner as well, so we’re just going to enjoy the fact that he’s there,” she said.
“The main thing is he comes home safe. It’s not the only race in the world. The fact that’s he’s in it is fantastic and if he gets a place, that’s a bonus, but he’s got to come home safe.”
Second place takes home $60,000, while third receives $30,000.
The race is set down for 9.35pm.
In the other main races, Richmond Vale trainer Jason Mackay has Berzerk in the Ultra Sense sprint series final from box one and Zipping Lily (box one) and Zipping Bruiser (three) in the New Sensation decider.
Clarence Town trainer Peter Honnery has Karma Connie in the Ultra Sense from box six. Sawyers Gull trainer has Wild Torn Blazer in two in the New Sensation.
