In an otherwise lean week for the Cowra greyhound fraternity Rebecca McDonald proved quality is a better tonic than quantity when she produced Fernando Fusion ($7.00) for a fighting win at Nowra on Monday night.
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As McDonald's only starter at the coastal meeting, Fernando Fusion continued his outstanding run of form with another brilliant performance.
Making his Nowra debut Fernando Fusion began swiftly from the inside draw before being headed mid race and then fighting back in the home straight finishing strongly to score in a near track record 20.41.
The win takes Fernando Fusion's recent record to five wins from his past six starts.
Rebecca's husband Rodney finished the meeting with two minor placings courtesy of Sold No Houses ($21) and Dana Gertie ($19) which finished second and third respectively.
Canowindra trained greyhound Silky Grant provided her trainer Liz Grant with her seventh winner for the 2021 season at Bathurst last Thursday.
From the two box in a a Grade 5 over 307 metres Silky Grant was only fairly away but soon found top gear racing away to score in a fast 17.56 by eight and a quarter lengths.
The win puts Liz Grant just one win behind husband David who has recorded eight wins in season 2021.
Liz has the better strike of the two with her seven winners coming from 35 starters.
By comparison David has sent 49 starters to the boxes.
Meanwhile Greyhound Racing NSW has announced a 23% increase in prizemoney and returns for participants in 2021-22, with the new record total of $47million doubling the figure that was paid just six years ago.
Making the announcement, GRNSW Chief Executive Officer Tony Mestrov said he was delighted to continue "a hugely positive upwards trend" in returns paid to the industry's participants.
Prizemoney and returns paid to participants will have increased by a collective $55million, or 46%, over the five-year period from 2018-22 compared with the previous five years (2013-17).
"The sustained growth of the overall industry in NSW is being driven by investments in a strong wagering product and the success of GRNSW's animal welfare initiatives as a part of industry reform, which is creating greater levels of confidence," Mr Mestrov said.
"Our owners, trainers and breeders, are the lifeblood of the industry and have been through an extraordinary period of transformation in recent years.
"GRNSW is delighted to be in the position to significantly increase the income opportunities and offset costs for participants."