Trainer Daniel Flanagan would be thrilled to have two runners in a group 1 final at any time.
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And it would be a dream come true if Only Want Mum or Surfing Dyno won the Vic Peters Classic at Wentworth Park on Saturday night.
But the Heddon Greta Hotel manager admits it would be extra special if Only Want Mum was the one to salute.
Only Want Mum was named in memory of three-year-old Ruby-Rose Milton, who died in May 2015 from an aggressive childhood cancer known as neuroblastoma.
As a tribute to Ruby-Rose, Flanagan told her mother, Renae Macpherson, who worked as a waitress at Heddon Greta Hotel at the time, that he would name his next greyhound in her honour.
During her battle with cancer, Ruby-Rose would say to doctors and nurses coming to her aid that “I only want mum”.
Flanagan said Macpherson, who has since moved interstate, was “over the moon” with the name and he had contacted her about Only Want Mum before its first start.
“When we were at the funeral I said to her that we’re going to name the next dog after her,” Flanagan said.
“And she was the one that came along, so it’s good. She broke in OK but from the time she was born, she was named after her little girl.”
Ruby is the kennel name of Only Want Mum, which made the age-restriction $75,000-to-the-winner Vic Peters Classic final with a third from box six in first semi-final last Saturday night.
The dark brindle bitch, which has two wins from six starts, will jump from box five in the decider and was $21 with TAB Fixed Odds.
Surfing Dyno was second from box six in semi-final number two last week. The brindle dog drew box eight and was $41.
Flanagan expected Only Want Mum to run well in the semi-finals but was unsure how Surfing Dyno would perform.
“When they got the bad boxes, I just hoped for a bit of luck and they had a bit going their way, which is good,” he said.
He admitted to having a soft spot for Only Want Mum but he also believed she was a genuine contender in the decider.
“Surfing Dyno is no star but he does OK,” he said.
“We just don’t know what he’s going to do from week to week, and he’s drawn out wide, which is probably not ideal.
“Only Want Mum has a massive motor and if she can get through and be left alone, I reckon she’s a big chance.”
Flanagan qualified Explosive Madame for the Vic Peters final two years ago and she finished fifth from box one.
She was owned by the Bord And Pillar Racing Syndicate, who also have interests in the two finalists this year.
“The guys who own the Explosive dogs, own Surfing Dyno and also half of Only Want Mum,” Flanagan said.
“Dad and I own half of her as well.”
Bekin Street ($2.80), Shallay Pallay ($3.80) and Chasin Crackers ($3.40) were battling for Vic Peters Classic favouritism on Friday.
