Progressive Forner's Storm Ultra Sense Bound

SERGIO Forner has come a long, long way since his initial entry into greyhound racing when he sold his fridge to be able to buy shares in his first greyhound.

He was 19 then and admits he lived “out of an esky”.

On Thursday night at his home track at Dapto, Sergio landed the Easter Bunny Final (520m) with home bred Forner's Storm in 30.01, the Barcia Bale-Forner's Flame bitch storming back to wear down Ebby Justice and win narrowly.

“Passing me they had got four lengths on her and I was consoling myself that third in the final would be good,” said Sergio.

“But, she came back again to win. It was very exciting.”

Sergio bred, reared and educated the three he kept from the litter out of his 11-time winner Forner's Flame (Oaks Road-Flame Bale) which had won in 29.71 at Dapto and 29.68 at Wentworth Park.

Her win in the Dapto final took Forner's Storm's record to 14 starts and seven wins. She has earned $24,000 and has already won in 29.73 at Dapto and 29.82 at Wentworth Park.

“It was a real thrill to win because Dapto is my home track,” said Sergio.

Now he is aiming the bitch at the Ultra Sense heats at Wentworth Park next Friday.

“And, I'd like to run her in the Nowra Puppy Classic as well,” he said.

Sergio remembers his entry into greyhound racing like it was yesterday.

“I was a production worker at Bluescope Steel and living in a flat on my own,” he said.

“A mate asked me to go halves in a dog with him. I didn't have the money, but sold my fridge and then lived out of an esky. I was on my own, so it didn't worry anyone.

“The bitch we bought, was called Sargent Ash, by Fast Sapphire from Equator.

“She won six and I bred a litter with her and sold all eight pups to the same guy.

“She produced a few winners as well.”

Sergio has been training himself for the past 30 years and admits he has tried a few times to stop.

What a finish to the @Ladbrokescomau @DaptoG Easter Bunny Final tonight, with Forners Storm coming back to win after being headed!#thedogs #greyhoundracing #greyhounds pic.twitter.com/f1hI2CgNpO

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) March 28, 2024

“But, my family said if I didn't get back into dogs, they would all leave,” he joked.

Now retired at 64, Sergio says greyhound training keeps him going from day to day.

“The mum (Forner's Flame) has not been back on season, but I'd like to go to a son of Barcia Bale with her next time, probably Shima Shine,” he said.

In the meantime he is relishing the success of Forner's Storm and believes she will continue to improve with more racing.