New Lease Of Life For Manners Matter

MANNERS Matter, just days from being sent to join the greyhound adoption program, is now a highly promising young race bitch in Tasmania.

Bred by Debra Winter in Victoria, the daughter of Blazin' Bomber-Gerardo's Girl has now started 16 times for five wins and six seconds, her victories coming at Launceston and Hobart.

Now raced and trained by Peter Higgins, she is the standout of his three-dog kennel in Gagebrook in the south of Tasmania.

“I've known Deb since the 1970s but we had not been in contact for 30 years,” said Peter.

“I was racing a dog at Launceston one night recently and Deb spotted me on the TV. ‘I know that bloke' she said and got on the phone to me. She had this bitch and was about to send her to GAP.

“But, she contacted me and I was happy to take her on. And I'm very glad I did.”

Peter said Manners Matter took “a long while” to come good but he felt it was simply a case of her gaining in confidence which he said she now boasts in oodles.

“As soon as she developed that confidence, she has thrived,” he said. “I trialled her one morning and said to myself ‘hello, what have we got here'.”

Higgins says with strength and fitness the bitch has developed into a very handy galloper.

“She may not be a group dog,” he said. “But you should never say never.”

Higgins says Manners Matter is the best named greyhound he's had.

“She does everything right,” he said. “She's a trainer's dream.”

Higgins was also full of praise of Deb Winter and her ability to judge greyhounds.

“She's been an astute breeder and judge for as long as I've known her.”

Manners Matter is a half sister to classy city performers River Crossing (22 wins, $68,000) and Kadalex Kid (20 wins, $61,000).