SHOALHAVEN greyhound Double Twist is celebrating a trifecta of awards she won at the NSW Greyhound of the Year Awards held at Luna Park on March 14.
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The Jason Lymbery and Gary Hush trained and Garry Edwards owned bitch took home the NSW Sprinter of the Year and NSW Run of the Year for her victory in the Christmas Gift final at Wentworth Park before she was named joint winner of the NSW Greyhound of the Year Award with Jagger Swagger.
“To not only win one but three awards was great. It all came as a big surprise,” Double Twist’s trainer Garry Edwards said.
“When she won the first award for run of the year, deep down inside I thought we could be close to winning it [NSW Greyhound of the Year]. But I said to everyone at the table, ‘at least we haven’t come up here for nothing’,” he said.
“When she won the sprint of the year we were over the moon and I thought she would have a good chance.
“Then when it came up that she was the joint winner with Jagger Swagger I just broke up. I got a bit emotional.
“Usually most trainers dream about this happening… when she was nominated, we thought that was good.”
Edwards has trained Double Twist since she was 12-months-old, but the bitch, now three, had a breakout year in 2013, winning 19 races including the Group 3 Christmas Gift and the Group 3 Nowra Puppy Classic.
She also competed in the Group 1 Sportingbet Megastar and broke the 520 metre track record at Dapto last December.
Despite being one of the smallest in her litter, Edwards said that ever since she was broken in he was aware of her potential.
“The first time we tried her out at Bulli she was fantastic. From there she just kept getting better and better,” he said.
From the start of 2014 Double Twist has gone on to increase her statistics to 21 wins out of 37 starts.
Her last win was the heats of the Paws of Thunder, but due to a torn muscle in her hind-quarters, the favourite had to be scratched from the $100, 000 final.
Since then Double Twist has been on the mend thanks to a strict recovery regime which had trainer Edwards walking her for a month, and his son Kory galloping her on the lead for the past eight weeks.
“Her recovery has been terrific,” Edwards said.
“We are just waiting until next Tuesday when she should get the all clear from the vet.”
Although she has missed the prestigious Golden Easter Egg, Double Twist is expected to make her comeback in the Group 3 bitches only Ladies Bracelet in June.
Edwards said Double Twist only has about six months’ racing left in her before she will be used for breeding.
The dog comes from a long line of group winners and has great breeding potential, with an
estimated value of $150,000 to $200,000.
Although a demon on the track, Edwards said Double Twist has a soft spot for post race liver treats, French fries, chicken nuggets and the occasional soft serve.
Edwards thanked his family and all the other people who have helped Double Twist in her racing career.