GREYHOUND RACING

THAT'S Not Bad looks primed to give Wagga trainer Peter Dooner a reason to nod his head in appreciation tonight.

The successful local trainer believes the young dog has the ability to make a bold statement when he makes his racing debut at the Wagga Showgrounds tonight.

That's Not Bad will have his first start in the Tasty Tucker Maiden (400m) at the Wagga Greyhound Racing Club's meeting tonight.

The black dog was first in a 400m trial at Wagga on Friday, January 23, out of box one in a time that has placed him firmly in tonight's mix.

"If he runs up to his performance in the trial, with a bit of luck he will be right up there at the end - if not over the line," Dooner said.

"He actually ran a quick enough time (in the trial) to win the race. Now we just have to see how he will go on the night.

"He's had enough experience on the track to be able to show promise."

While confident in his budding young charge's potential, Dooner admitted maiden races can be particularly unpredictable.

"Maiden races can be hard because you just don't know how the others will perform," he said.

"Being a maiden the dogs are all very young and they are all still learning.

"They could come out and turn left or turn right. You just don't really know.

"They all still need plenty of experience."

That's Not Bad by Velocette out of Prowler is likely to have litter mates joining him on the track in the future.

"He was in a litter of nine and I kept three of them," Dooner said.

"At the moment I don't have any of the others running but I do have a couple of his sisters coming up who are running well."

Dooner said That's Not Bad has been helped by the box draw for tonight, with the dog set to race from box two.

"With maidens, it really comes down to whoever gets out of the boxes first," he said.

"He is an average jumper, but he has an inside box which is really good because it puts him on the rail... it's much better to be on the rail.

"He's a very good railer."