Caption: Matt Vincent says he will pass on his grandfather’s little black book of training tips to his son Theo.

Each month Chase puts the spotlight on a person and/or their ‘best friend’ – a story that gives an insight into the true heart of greyhound racing. It showcases all that is good in this sport and is a monthly tribute to much-loved greyhound identity Daryl ‘Albert’ Gleeson.

By DAVID BRASCH

EVERY time Matt Vincent wins a race, which happens pretty often lately, he looks to the skies and thanks his late grandfather Stan.

Hidden away at Matt’s Warner home is a little black book of greyhound racing secrets handed down to Matt from his England-based grandfather Stan.

Even Matt’s partner Sara has no idea where the book is hidden.

“My grandfather trained some champions back in England, but I could not tell you who they were,” said Matt. “They are lost in time.”

Matt’s dad Phil came to Australia in the late 1970s, smitten with his soon-to-be wife Michelle, a Brisbane girl. They settled in Nowra, had a family and their son Matt was engrossed by greyhound racing.

“We grew up at the back of the Nowra greyhound track,” said Matt.

Those greyhound training secrets were given to Matt during Stan’s many trips to Australia.

“I wrote everything down in the little black book – training, problem solving – everything I needed to know about getting dogs to win,” said Matt.

“Training has changed a lot these days, but the little black book is hidden away and I refer to it all the time.”

Matt joined the army in 2001 based in Townsville, did a stint in Timor and eventually was discharged in 2009.

“I destroyed my back and have lived on an army pension since,” he said.

He got his first dog in 2017, Powder, a Radley Bale-Kaycee Diva that won one race, an Albion Park 520m maiden at odds of $51.

Since then Matt and his family have embraced greyhound racing.

In 2018 he bought a bitch pup from Rick Perry who, with Barry Kitchener, had bred a Zabdon Ferrari-Little Jill litter. He named her Flying September and she won 12 races and $36,000.

“I took her to the Casino Cup series and after that she came into the house for a couple of months as a bit of a pet,” said Matt. “When I brought her back to racing she got acidosis and was off for six to eight months.”

Matt had always planned to breed with her. His mate Neil Denmar rang and suggested Anthony Azzopardi’s Group 1 star Whiskey Riot.

“All credit to Neil,” said Matt. “He suggested I put her to Whiskey Riot because it would go a long way to recreating Poke The Bear, Out Of Ranger and that great litter.”

From the mating he has exciting youngsters At My Command and Hotel Whiskey One, both Albion Park winners and the latter a finalist in the Dave Brett Memorial.

“I made a massive promise to Sara that this litter would pay off our home loan,” said Matt. “To have faith. And already we have not much more to go.”

Sara and Matt have four children between them. Sara is a systems analyst with Queensland Health.

Matt has got former army mates Paul Rantucci and Mark Harrop into the Three Gunners Syndicate to race At My Command. “We are the best of mates,” said Matt.

He sold two of the Whiskey Riot-Flying September litter, one to Kerry Myers and another to South Australia. The others are raced by Team Smartees Syndicate.

“Team Smartees is Sara Matt, and the three boys Thomas, Tyler and Theo,” said Matt.

“Theo is five and he loves the dogs. I will be making a copy of the little black book for him when he gets older.

“Every day he gives all the dogs a cuddle, puts them on the massage bed and gives them their morning biscuit.”

Matt admits he can go through a stressful time training dogs.

“I put a lot of stress on myself and go through a lot of anxiety,” he said.

“I feel half the time I’m out there on the track that I’m going to have a heart attack. That’s why, when we win a race, I always look to the sky and thank my grandfather.”

While the little black book holds pride of place for Matt, he does have a lucky charm as well.

“My uncle Kevin in England sent me a lucky flat cap and I wear it every time I go racing,” he said. “It is a replica of one my grandad wore all the time.”

With the recent success of Flying September’s first litter of pups, you’d think Matt would be desperate to breed with her again.

“Yes, I am,” he said. “But she lives the life of luxury in the house and she just will not come on season again.”

But, in the meantime, with At My Command, Hotel Whiskey One, Rubicon Rubi etc winning and showing huge promise, Matt and his family are just happy to enjoy the ride.

“Yes, living the dream,” he said.