If you want to see the perfect example of persistence paying off, look no further than John Cini and his greyhound Impact Rose.
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While Impact Rose’s start to her racing career was by no means fruitless, Cini said the greyhound took a “long time to come good”.
After 18 races, Impact Rose had three wins to her name.
Now, heading into the second day of the Tamworth Cup Carnival, Impact Rose has six wins from 23 starts after scoring three victories over her last five races.
“She's going really good at the moment,” Cini said of Impact Rose.
“She just took a long time to get her going.
“She dead-heated a final at Maitland [in January]. She’s going alright.”
While Impact Rose will be out to win the Race Day Staff Appreciation Stakes at the Tamworth track on Wednesday, Cini will be using the race as warm-up of sorts as he aims the greyhound for the Tamworth Cup on May 5.
Impact Rose will race on Wednesday and then again on Saturday in the Tamworth Cup heats but Cini isn’t worried about the workload.
“I started her at Maitland on a Thursday. Then I backed her up on the Saturday at Tamworth and she came out and won. So I don’t think she minds the work,” the Westdale trainer said.
Cini has been in the greyhound racing game for close to 50 years.
He worked as a full-time trainer in Sydney for over a decade and has lived in Tamworth for close to 20 years.
While some may grow tired of the competition, Cini can’t see himself getting out of racing and has a simple reason for sticking around.
“Just the love for the greyhounds,” Cini said.
“I used to be a full-time trainer in Sydney when I was 18. We’ve had a couple handy dogs in the past.
“When they were going to shut the greyhounds down, I was shattered, because I’ve always been involved.
“I can’t see myself getting out of them.”
He doesn’t do it all on his own, though.
“I’ve got my own business and if it wasn’t for my wife. I wouldn’t be able to have them,” Cini said. The first race on Wednesday – the Lest We Forget Stakes – starts at 1.30pm while the final race – the Josh Hatch Appreciation Stakes – jumps at 3.45pm.