Caption: Rockhampton owner Pav Cheimardinov with his smart sprinter Black Maxie.

By MIKE HILL

CONSTRUCTION company boss Pav Cheimardinov says his foray into the greyhound industry at Rockhampton is just satisfying an interest in the sport.

In the past seven months, Cheimardinov has become a big player assembling a strong team of greyhounds for leading Rocky trainer Andrew Suli.

“We work hard and it’s a good interest,” the owner of Pavscorp, a firm specialising in architect-designed homes and high-end builds, said last month.

Cheimardinov, who has owned racehorses for some time, ventured into the greyhound world last November and since then has been building up his team.

He paid a healthy sum for smart Victorian country sprinter Slingshot Prince (Unlawful Entry-Paw Sa Prize) and snapped up Wentworth Park winners Black Maxie and new addition Hooper (Oaks Road-Amyjo).

Black Maxie (Barcia Bale-Calla Blackie) had broken down while running second to Black Opium in a semi-final of the Million Dollar Chase series in October 2019.

The black sprinter was sidelined for seven months before returning to the track mid-last year, racing with some success over 350m-440m at Goulburn and Bulli.

He then won his first three starts for his new connections over the Rocky 407m journey and Cheimardinov was so impressed with the chaser he sought out Luddenham breeder John Callaughan for more Calla Blackie pups.

The broodbitch had a litter of six – four dogs and two bitches – by Adelaide Cup winner Allen Deed.

“I wanted the whole litter, but they weren’t for sale,” said Pav. “But I went to work and made an offer and on Boxing Day I got a phone call: ‘You can have five of them as a Christmas present’.

Cheimardinov said his interest in the dogs was sparked during a conversation with Suli at the Rocky races last year.

“I was just chatting with Andrew and decided to get some greyhounds,” he said.

“It gives me something to do on Wednesday nights.

“We’ve got a nice litter coming through.”

Cheimardinov, who has been in the building game for many years, relocated to Rockhampton from Canberra two years ago.

His aim is to eventually have some classy sprinters capable of claiming feature or even Group glory.

“If they’re good enough we’ll travel,” he said.

Cheimardinov’s  growing team of dogs has played a significant role in Suli taking an early lead in the trainer’s premiership at Rockhampton.

Last month, with a total of 338 points, he had a narrow two-point lead over Zilzie’s Bill Boon (336).

Cheimardinov said he was just waiting for Black Maxie and Slingshot Prince to resuming racing after injury-enforced spells.

Black Maxie bruised a back leg muscle, while Slingshot Prince also suffered a hind leg injury at his first Rocky start back in late January.

Both sprinters are back in work and pleasing their connections.

The pair are likely to have their first runs back over the 331m trip at Albion Park in coming weeks.

Cheimardinov says he is also keen to eventually venture into the breeding side of the sport.

“I’m just waiting for the right broodbitch to come along,” he said.