Player's 'Angel' Keeps On Keeping On

BY his own admission, Mick Player's 26 race winner Road Angel has the tendency of driving him crazy at times.
"At home she can be a handful, I'll tell you," declared the stalwart Tahmoor owner/trainer who heads up Thirlmere Trial Track as well as overseeing the Camden Branch of the NSW GBOTA.
"She can bark all day to tell you the truth, she's one of those bitches' that doesn't have a very affectionate nature, all she wants to do is run and race – and that's just fine with me!"
Landing her 26th race victory at Dapto last Thursday night where she defeated younger half-brother His Highness by a length in 17.22 to take her prizemoney past $30k, Road Angel backed up at Nowra on Monday where she finished a gallant third over the 365m.
Whelped way back in February 2013, the daughter of Oaks Road and Myron's Angel has been a wonderful money-spinner for Player, acquiring the ageless galloper after a dozen starts for what can now comfortably be declared, a "bargain" price.
"I bought her off John Maroun for $1000 but she was a going concern at the time with a stopper tendon injury, it took me a while to work her out," said Player on Monday morning before heading off to Nowra to rug up Road Angel for her 138th career start.
"John had her going over 500 early on in her career and while she won a couple, her early speed and box manners is where she did her best – she's your ideal sprinter. John works for the Council down this way and when her form went off a bit I offered him the $1,000 for her and as he didn't have the time to put into her I got her.
"I've never had one like her, she's just so consistent and gives you her all every time."
Such is Road Angel's longevity and success, the February 2013 whelp is the reigning Nowra Greyhound Of The Year, GBOTA Greyhound Of The Year and GBOTA Camden Branch Greyhound Of The Year, recognition that Player says is well deserved.
"Sometimes she probably doesn't get the publicity she deserves – to be running around at 5 ½ years and after 137 starts like she is, it really is a great effort," added Player.
"When she comes on season again and tells me she's had enough she'll go to Ritza Lenny to be served. I train dogs for his owner Frank Gatt and I've organised a natural service for her with him. We're a pretty tight nit group of participants down here and are always keen to help and support each other.
"I raced her through a season recently and she won two and was placed another two, she's happiest when she's racing and has the heart of a lion to boot, she begins consistently and when she leads, she's pretty hard to get past too."
Road Angel's rich vein of form is another glowing endorsement for GRNSW's Masters' grading program, keeping the evergreen sprinter competitive within her own veterans' grade more often than not.
"There's times where she may find herself out-graded but then you get the times she's in well so you take the good with the bad, with her it's a bit different because she begins so well, she makes her own luck in her races," added Player.
"I said to someone recently she's a bit like your wife, she can be standoffish but as long as she gets what she wants she's happy, and for her, that's definitely going to the races!
"And if she keeps doing what she's doing she can carry on however she likes – it's just fine with me!"