Manager Said's Winning Statement

QUEANBEYAN trainer Kim Sherd made a winning return to the races at Goulburn on Tuesday afternoon, landing a hugely impressive debut victory with untapped youngster Manager Said.

Stepping out with his first runner since way back in January, the Sherd-trained Manager Said – a son of Hay Fergus and Grappa Girl – couldn't have been more impressive at his first trip to the races, landing his maiden over the 350m in an electrifying best of day 19.72.

And considering 34 race winner Banjo Shark went 19.86 later in the program, and the smart Styles, winner of his past three on the trot, went 20.03 to take out the last, the performance was simply outstanding but at the same time of little surprise to his trainer.

"We've pretty much known we had something special right from the start," said Sherd this week of his exciting youngster, who he shares in the ownership of with brother and sister Tyrone and Tiana Dargue, their first venture into greyhound ownership.

"Mick Clayton reared and broke the litter in and it was after about a week he rang me during break-in and said you can leave him (Manager Said) here! He's just put it together right from the start. His first go from the puppy run at Nowra he went 15 ½ and generally 16 ½ is going okay."

Manager Said's outstanding race track debut on Tuesday is a further feather in the cap of underutilized sire Hay Fergus, his five litters to hit the track so far netting 30 race wins, boasting an imposing strike-rate.

"When we sat down to decide who to go to with Grappa Girl Hay Fergus looked ideal and it's turned out that way," said Sherd.

"We wanted to put his power and chase into the pups as Grappa Girl could get over 600 but was a bit evil at times – he's by Brett Lee and obviously what he did on the track before his injury, well dogs just couldn't do what he was doing.

"Grappa Girl has a second litter three weeks old now to My Bro Fabio which we are excited about also. There are seven in this first litter and they can all run, Charlie Grappa who my mate Keith Kerr trains went 19.96 at Goulburn in a PT on Tuesday, they are all showing a bit and have plenty of improvement in them as well."

Not getting ahead of himself, Sherd's firmly of the belief he isn't near getting to the bottom of his 18-month old youngster, who he plans to work through the grades at his own pace, confident he'll see out a strong 500 in the long run.

"Without sounding smart he's only half done at the moment – he's 34 kilos and only 18 months old so we want to take things slowly with him, there's some nice races around for lower grade dogs coming up at Goulburn and Nowra so we'll stick to those for now. There have been a few offers for him but at the moment he's not for sale, but as they say everything is for sale at the right price!

"I received a message from Deborah (May) after the race congratulating us on the win, he's a really nice pup with all the mannerisms to head in the right direction, he's keen without being over the top, and as Mick Clayton said to me you can't be upset with a pup for being keen!"