Matthews Celebrates His First Win As A Trainer
Bargain buy two year-old Sixer's Slip, owned and trained by Matthews, produced an impressive front-running display in a maiden heat (457 metres) at Geelong on Monday.
She was never headed from box seven and recorded the quickest time (26.45sec) of the four-heat series.
“This is my third dog, the first two were duds and didn't make the grade,” Matthews said.
“She has been struggling with a few injuries but I have been able to work her flat out for the first time and that makes a difference obviously.”
Sixer's Slip, a brindle and white bitch by Elite State out of Flossie Stuart, was purchased for just $400 from Charlton trainer Greg Guy. The speedy type quickly paid for herself with Monday's win and will be looking make it back-to-back victories when she contests the final at Geelong on Friday night*.
Matthews said he had been given a helping hand from newly established Crowlands trainer Chris Perry, who he says has `mentored him'.
“He has been helping me with her diet and getting her on the straight and narrow,” Matthews said.
“She has had a crook hip and I have been working on her with the pulse machine, it has been a lot of work.”
* Sixer's Slip finished seventh in Friday night's Whisky Assassin Final starting fourth in the betting at $6.70; after finding severe interference on the home turn.
Courtesy : The Stawell Times News