Caption: Taylah Shoesmith loves greyhound racing, recently gaining her hander’s licence.

By DIMITY MAHER (The Greyhound Girl)

THE first thought every participant has and bestows to others is for all greyhounds to get around safely in a race.

Unfortunately, accidents do happen and that was the case during the running of the recent GRNSW Young Stars Final at Wentworth Park when Fernando Quality suffered a significant injury to his scapula.

After saluting in 10 of his first 11 career outings, the Michelle Sultana-trained chaser was ideally drawn in box two, but struck the running rail heading towards the first turn.

A team of dedicated staff and participants quickly churned into overdrive, transporting the greyhound to Colyton Veterinary Clinic for further treatment.

 Their efforts were phenomenal in putting the Fernando Bale-Caviar Quality dog’s broken scapula back together, through the insertion of a metal plate.

He is on the road to recovery thanks to Aaron, the on-course vet at Wentworth Park, Mel, who drove him to the vet clinic, and Chris at Colyton Vet Clinic, who completed the surgery.

 An incredible effort by everyone involved, only underlining how much love trainers and everyone associated with greyhound racing has for these beautiful animals.

Fernando Quality will now live a long and happy life as a ‘couch potato’.

From one heart-warming story to another…..

 This story undoubtably shows how amazing greyhounds truly are, including the joy and happiness they bring to people of all ages.

 At Maitland in recent weeks, young greyhound participant Taylah Shoesmith obtained her handler’s licence and has been catching greyhounds for her aunty, Anne Foley.

Taylah is on the autism spectrum, but that has not stopped her growing in confidence with every opportunity she gets in being able to put the lead and collar on her favourite animal.

 She’s got big dreams and has set herself plenty of goals to learn as much as possible about the handling process and it’s only a matter of time before she’s posing in front of the finish line with countless winners.

The ‘Price’ was certainly right at Gawler during October for talented Lewiston-based trainer Nicole Price who notched up an incredible five winners at a single meeting from just six starters.

At the time of writing, Price had also qualified Velocity Zaylia for the G3 Gawler Cup, held over the 531m journey.

It was the daughter of Keybow and Velocity Charm’s third straight win in taking out her heat.

In addition, there was plenty of ‘girl power’ on display in several Group race finals throughout October.

Victorian mentor Olivia Cartechini qualified Jetson’s Flash for her first Group race in the G3 Great Chase Final at The Meadows.

NSW trainer Jess Fothergill put the polish on G3 Goulburn Cup finalist Scorching Boy, also being her debut Group runner.

And highly successful Victorian conditioner  Bec Gibbons had a night to remember at Bendigo for the running of the G2 Cup heats, with her team of chasers taking out four of the heats in a super training effort.