Nathan Rooney (pictured with Mayor Digby) heads into Wednesday night’s Warrnambool Cup heats with Mayor Digby as his sole competitor.

Mayor Digby is one sixth of the Fernando Bale and Magic Diva litter bred by Darren and Nadine Brown.

A litter that has produced the likes of Chief’s Empire, Chief’s Sidekick and Percy’s Empire.

With early speed to burn, Mayor Digby has drawn box five in heat four against Horsham and Cranbourne Cup winner Orson Allen.

“He is a front running greyhound who does his best racing when he is out in front,” trainer Nathan Rooney said.

“Even though Mayor Digby has great early speed Orson Allen is drawn well in box one and could be running low 25 seconds.”

Major Digby has had two starts over the 390 at Warrnambool in preparation for the Cup heats on Wednesday night.

“There were Grade 5 Heats and Finals over the 390 at Warrnambool which worked out perfectly. He is a dog who isn’t that strong so keeping him fresh over the shorter distance was a great incentive to put him in.”

What would it take to defeat a greyhound like Orson Allen? Apart from luck of course.

“Mayor Digby would need to be out in front to have any chance of beating Orson,” Nathan said.

“I think the dog is a genuine place hope.”

“Box five isn’t a disadvantage for him. He is a greyhound who holds his line well and without any fence crashers or widies near him there shouldn’t be any issues out of the boxes.”

Nathan does have one not so secret, secret up his sleeves…. Ashlee Terry.

Greyhound racings new power couple have set up a team of 11 greyhounds (so far) in Nilma North.

Nathan has spent the past 18 months working alongside Darren and Nadine Brown in Lara before meeting Ashlee and joining forces.

Wednesday night will see six Group 2 Macey’s Bistro Warrnambool Cup heats, with the six winners and two fastest second place getters making it through to the $67,000 feature.

Other greyhounds of note include;
– Crimson Vixen (heat one box two)
– Whiskey Riot (heat one box four)
– Nervous An Weird (heat two box two)
– Flynn (heat two box four)
– Barooga Brett (heat three box six)
– Lucy’s Milo (heat five box one)
– Time To Talk (heat five box two)
– Elevated (heat six box one)
– Dyna Patty (heat six box eight)