Consistent performer Hello Fernando shook off his rivals, and his bridesmaid tag, to return to winning ways at Wagga on Thursday.
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The John Cusack-trained dog has only missed the placings twice in 10 career starts.
However he brought up just the second win of his career in the Graeme Hull Smash Repairs 0-2 Wins (525m).
Coming off a fifth at Temora last time out, The Rock trainer was concerned a chequered passage may have dented his confidence.
It proved not to be the case as he downed Mankad by almost a length.
"His last race at Temora over the 570 he got ushered off the track by another dog so I thought he might have lacked a bit of confidence but he seemed to have it," Cusack said.
"He has got it all together.
"The small field suits and it helped he was up on the pace.
"He had no trouble with no other dogs around him."
Hello Fernando's other unplaced effort was at Wentworth Park before moving to the Riverina.
A winner in his second race start, the son of Fernando Bale was placed in his first six races for Lorraine Atchison before heading to Cusack after his first unplaced effort.
Cusack was pleased to bring up the win in just his third start for the kennel.
"He's had a few problems, a few injuries and other issues but he might be on the way back," he said.
"He tends to like to stay outside and out of trouble but if he finds trouble he'll give up chasing."
Cusack also finished fourth in the race with Stars Align after he made a winning debut at Temora last month.
Meanwhile Little Luna rallied back to make it two wins in her last three starts.
After a strong beginning in the Ganmain Freight 4th/5th Grade (320m), We Gotta Million railed inside the Bruce Williams-trained bitch turning for home.
However she recovered to bring up her fifth career win.
Bianca Keeping also brought up a milestone victory for Illabo trainer Ray Sims.
In the masters event the bitch secured her 20th win launched out of box six for an all-the-way success.
It is a busy week of greyhound racing in the Riverina with Temora also having a 10-race meeting on Saturday.
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