Anakie trainer Clint Capuano, 34, is a self-proclaimed proponent of coursing. He even took to Facebook recently to espouse its virtues.
“It’s one-on-one and gets the greyhounds switched on. It’s hugely beneficial,” he said.
A self-employed concreter, Capuano mixes work with his greyhound racing passion.
And he gave his own example of how coursing can provide a ‘mental spur’ to a greyhound.
“I had Fairytale Wish in at Lang Lang (July 18) and she was annihilated in her first course. But she came out at Sandown four days later and won in 29.58sec. It really smartened her up.
“In fact, from the five greyhounds I took to Lang Lang, three have since won over the ‘circle’ and two have finished second.”
Capuano added he was taking two greyhounds – Zipping Norman and Snapper Smith – to Longwood on Sunday. Both are making their coursing debuts.
“I had Fairytale Wish in at Lang Lang and she was annihilated in her first course. But she came out at Sandown four days later and won in 29.58sec. It really smartened her up.”
“Zipping Norman’s recent ‘circle’ form is shocking. I’m hoping coursing will spark him up. And Snapper Smith is very fast, so I’m anticipating a coursing stint will get her mind on the job.”
Snapper Smith has won at Sandown Park (29.79sec) and The Meadows (30.18sec), while Zipping Norman has also won at Sandown Park (34.16sec) and The Meadows (30.20sec).
Capuano says coursing is a “great day out”. “You catch up with a few people you actually get to talk to, and everyone is helpful.”
Given his work commitments, Capuano is heavily reliant on his partner, Chloe Dew, who he says, “does the day-to-day work” with their racing team of 13 and a few pups. She even gets a little bit of help from daughter Charlotte, 3.
“Nicole Cachia also moved in with us around six months ago with her daughters Sophie, 6, and Ella, 3, and assists in the morning and night with our greyhounds.”
Pawnote: The Longwood fixture is highlighted by champion coursing greyhound Making Gravy, last year’s Waterloo Cup winner, competing for the Western Saws Cup ($1300 first prize) and a hot coursing field in the Gary Brett Memorial (winner $1100).
WATCH: Fairytale Wish (4) pulls off her own ‘fairytale’, clocking a 29.58sec win at Sandown only four days after an unsuccessful coursing debut.
