GREYHOUND RACING
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HUSBAND and wife training team, Rod and Sandra Oakman, will be chasing their second feature race victory in four weeks with Uno Minks at Wagga Showground on Sunday.
Last month the Oakmans pulled off a massive upset when $30.00 shot Uno Minks triumphed in the lucrative Rules Club Blue Paws Final (525m) at the Wagga track.
Turn the clock forward to Sunday and Uno Minks was again a knockout dog when she toppled $1.90 favourite Runagate in a the first heat of the Rules Club Series (400m) at the venue.
Runagate and Uno Minks staged a sensational two-dog war for most of the way before the Oakmans' sprinter got the better of her younger and less-experienced rival to win by a decisive length.
Recalling the thrilling race, Rod Oakman said yesterday Uno Minks had drawn on her strength and greater race hardness to outlast Runagate.
"It was a terrific race," Oakman said.
"They went stride for stride, but eventually she (Uno Minks) got the upper hand.
"I suppose you could say it was a bit like a rookie teenager playing on a 150-game player in a footy game.
"Runagate's only had eight starts and Uno Minks has had 30.
"I think that counted in the end."
Fresh from Sunday's gallant success, Uno Minks will now head into her second feature Wagga event with an undeniable chance.
Uno Minks is the fastest qualifier after upstaging Runagate in 23.29 seconds on Sunday, while Oh Dear took out the other heat of the Rules Club Series in 23.60.
The box draw for the Rules Club Series final (400m) will be released tomorrow.
For Rod and Sandra Oakman, Uno Minks has a chance to add another $1000 in her prizemoney bank, which was swelled by $2250 when the bitch won the Rules Club Blue Paws Final last month.
Throw in the $650 she earned for Sunday's success and Uno Minks is proving the "value" of racing in Wagga, according to Rod Oakman.
"That's nearly $3000 in a month which is good money in the bush," Oakman said.
"There's really great value owning a dog and racing in Wagga."
For the Oakmans, the recent winning spree in Sydney and Wagga of Uno Minks and her brothers and sisters still falls a long way short of the astonishing riches of Western Australian superstar Miata.
Fresh from a stunning 14-length win in the Galaxy final at Cannington in Perth on Saturday night, Miata has now accumulated an Australian record $671,508 in prizemoney from her 40 wins and four minor places from 47 starts.
Likewise, Rod and Sandra Oakman continue to dream.