‘Ronnie’, better known as Walk Hard, has a name derived from the famous spoof movie ‘Walk Hard – The Dewey Cox Story’ which starred John C Reilly.

The movie chronicles a career of ups and downs for the singer in a comical way in which his biggest hit is titled ‘Walk Hard’ and is a reference to the Johnny Cash song ‘Walk the Line’.

“We named him after the movie because it’s the best movie ever!” trainer Nikki McRae revealed

“It’s me and my sons favourite.”

The greyhound’s career has had its ups and downs too, although it has not been as comical. Blessed with immense talent, Walk Hard has been cruelled by injury throughout his career.

Nikki McRae, of Clyde, has shown an enormous amount of care for her prized greyhound ensuring that every time he steps out on the track, he is 100 per cent fit.

A Warragul Cup winner, the son of Bit Chilli and Miss Bling, has run some blistering times around Australia including a 25.81 second romp in a Hobart Thousand heat two years ago.

He ultimately ran third in that final. This year, in the twilight of his career, he is there to win the Group 1 feature.

“He’s pulled up well from Ballarat but age isn’t really on his side,” McRae said.

“Being lightly raced is definitely in his favour, what he missed at the start of his career he is making it up for in the finish.”

“His run in the Ballarat Cup heat (Walk Hard ran second to Allen Deed) gave me the confidence to enter him into the heats of the Hobart Thousand.”

He has had 58 starts for 25 wins and 22 placings and amassed $141,000 in prize money.

Walk Hard is currently $16.00 with TAB to win the whole series while Dyna Villa (heat two) is a $5.00 favourite to claim the famous Melbourne Cup/Hobart Thousand double.

In heat eight (race 10) Walk Hard (3) is a narrow $3.20 favourite in front of National Time (6) at $4.40 and White Spyro (5) at $5.50

Other notable runners in the Hobart Thousand heats include: Melbourne Cup finalist Above All (heat seven) local champion Buckle Up Wes (heat five) and Healesville Cup winner Size Does Matter (heat three).

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WATCH: Walk Hard wins the 2014 Warragul Cup

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