White Ox Thirsty For Feature Race Success

White Ox may have finished second in qualifying for Thursday night's TAB Queensland Short Course Final at Albion Park, but trainer Di Hannon believes he's as good a chance as any in the 331-metre dash.

The uniquely marked dog celebrated his fourth birthday in December but seems to be only getting better, not finishing worse than second at his past 11 starts.

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"He's one of those dogs that deserves a race like this; he's been a model of consistency on the track and a perfect animal at home," Hannon said.

"They're very easy to train when they have an attitude like his and go out and chase hard every race as he does."

To win 25 races over the short course you have to be fearless and rapid out of the boxes, two qualities White Ox possesses, but Hannon said there is no room for error in a quality field this Thursday.

"It doesn't bother him where he's drawn; posted out in the seven in last week's heats he charged across and made his own luck," she said.

"I'm a bit conflicted on the draw this week (2). The outside boxes are very handy for a dog that jumps well from the 331 metre boxes, but if he can hold his position on the rail that can win him the race."

Hannon had hoped for White Ox to become a Thursday night 520 metre dog and while that didn't eventuate, he's put together a remarkable record and gets his shot at feature race glory this Thursday night.

"We were hoping early days he would step up to the 520 but a lot of Paw Licking's progeny seem to stick to the shorter courses," Hannon explained.

"A big reason he's been able to win 25 races is the fact he's always been sound.

"Touchwood he'll be racing for a while longer yet, I don't look at their age so much as their behaviour. He's still excited to go to the track and get out and chase."

Greyhound racing is in Hannon's blood and after modest beginnings she has made a life-long career in the industry she loves.

"I'm a second-generation trainer through my father and started off at the Gold Coast hinterland where he sent me three pups, it's just grown from there," she said.

"I've always been fortunate to breed good dogs; I've been very lucky in that respect. There's no perfect way to breed dogs but we continue to produce handy ones."