Jima Explodes On City Debut

IWO Jima, named after the World War II battle which raged for over a month in 1945 and saw the United States marines capture that Japanese volcano island, exploded onto Wentworth Park at her first run on the track last Wednesday evening.

Trained at Swan Bay (Newcastle) by Allan Ivers, Iwo Jima trailed tearaway leader Aston Ginger throughout before snatching victory on the post to win a 520m Ladbrokes Gardens To Wenty Final in 30.39.

Aston Ginger had looked all over a winner when she sped away with a six lengths' lead towards the end of the back straight.

But Iwo Jima has always been noted for her strength and she swamped the leader in the straight, with minor placegetter Knocker Elly just on six lengths away in third.

“It was a good effort because Iwo Jima had never seen Wenty before,” trainer Ivers said.

“Because the heats were just five days before the final there was no opportunity to get to Wentworth Park for a trial.

“She was looking good when she settled in second position because Iwo Jima is very strong.

“She never blows after a race and it would not surprise me to see her tackling long distance races in 12 months' time, but at this stage she is only young and doesn't turn two until August.

"I have 40 kennels on my property and in the past I have had 30 greyhounds in work but at present I am down to 18 in training."

Iwo Jima's owner Daniel Eveleigh, a truck driver, said: “I am a big fan of war movies so that's where the name for this bitch came from.

“Breeder Johnny Lawson gave me two of his bitches, Sheba's Doll and Asteroid Miss, to breed from, on the undertaking I would give him a couple of pups from their litters.

“Iwo Jima is from Sheba's Doll's first litter, to Dyna Double One, while she has a second litter, now 14 months old, by Surf Lorian.

“I went to Surf Lorian with her because I regard him as the most gifted freewheeling sprinter I've seen.

“Sheba's Doll was a fast bitch who ran 30.10sec at Wentworth Park but whose career was cut short when she dropped a hind leg muscle.

“Because I drive trucks in the mining industry I don't have time to train dogs myself but Allan Ivers is an exceptionally good conditioner of greyhounds.

“I have been in the game a long time as my father Chris has been a successful trainer and I actually got my first dog, and started training it myself, when I was eight years old.

“That dog was a giveaway and sure enough, wasn't much good, failing to win a race.

“But it got me hooked on the sport for life.”