National Draft Off To A Flying Start

WHEN Peter Cameron was handed the first pick of last November's inaugural National Greyhound Draft prospects, the leading WA owner was keen to tick a few boxes for his newly formed team of owners.

"I was mainly looking at bloodlines … I wanted a dam that was proven and I also wanted to get one of the older pups in the draft so the owners didn't have to wait as long," said Cameron on Monday.

"But it was mainly the bloodlines that dragged me in."

With an embarrassment of riches to choose from, Cameron pinned his team's coveted first pick on a superby bred 11-month old son of Black Magic Opal and Absolute Stunna, the dam responsible for chasers the caliber of Blazin' Bomber, Bells Are Ringin' and Ring The Bell.

At Geelong on Friday night, that pup, which races by the name of Wallbanger, made a stunning debut in the GRV Vic Breeders Maiden Series (400m), scoring by 5 ½ lengths in a slashing 22.33 for proud trainer Angela Langton.

"After I picked him first up at the Draft I was talking to George Farrugia and he said he would have picked him first as well … that made me feel better – he was a beautiful looking pup," said Cameron on Monday.

"It's great to get a win first up, the reports from Angela have been very positive about the dog but until you see them do it in a field you don't really know what to expect.

"He went the quickest of the night overall as well as the fastest first section and the best last section – it wasn't a surprise he won but maybe the time he went was a bit of a shock."

Wallbanger's resounding first up victory on Friday night is a real shot in the arm for the newly formed National Greyhound Draft, the concept aimed at providing new owners a seamless and transparent entry into the sport.

Set to be staged again later this year, the draft is the brainchild of the Sandown Greyhound Racing Club.

"It's a great initiative and I'm really happy to be a part of it all," beamed Cameron.

"We've got a large group of owners in my team, mainly people here in WA, and the feedback from Friday has been great. West Coast Eagles player Brad Sheppard and Aussie cricketer Mitch Marsh are in our team as well … I haven't heard from them yet though."

At Geelong this Friday night, Wallbanger lines up in the Vic Breeders Maiden Final over the 400 metres from box four, where a cool $7,500 awaits winning connections.

"I haven't had a good look at the race and what's drawn around him but it's a good field," Cameron said.

With the National Draft graduates now up and running, Cameron's team of three is rounded out by a Thirty Talks pup with leading Queensland conditioner Tony Brett, while a Kc And All pup is being educated before heading to NSW training team Andrew and Adam Crouch.

"When I picked my three pups it made sense where each of the three would be trained," Cameron explained.

"With Wallbanger being Vic Bred he was going to Angela for the breeding bonuses in Victoria and the Thirty Talks pup was always going to Tony (Brett). He's broken in well so we'll see how he goes."

Meanwhile, the second of the National Greyhound Draft graduates debuted at Sandown on Sunday with the Rob Britton-trained Slight Of Hand, a sister to Wallbanger, leading up before finishing second to Repercussions over the 515 metres.

Included in Team Britton's ownership group is Melbourne Storm star Ryan Papenhuyzen.

Papenhuyzen tuned in to watch Slight Of Hand finish second on Sunday, a day after the Storm put the Parramatta Eels to the sword with a 32-0 semi-final drubbing.

"It was awesome to watch her go around – I was keen to get out there but we had review and recovery, hopefully I can get out and see her race soon," said Papenhuyzen.