For owner, breeder and trainer Jordan Cooper, the equation is simple.

It costs the same to feed, train and care for a future champion as it does a greyhound that never wins a race.

That’s why he keeps breeding, keeps trying and keeps believing despite how challenging it can be.

And it’s why the Pink Diamond series means so much.

A race series restricted to Victorian-bred greyhounds, the Pink Diamond gives dogs of all abilities their chance to shine. This year, Cooper has one competing with the state’s best sprinters – Crackerjack Ralf.

The challenge hasn’t been talent. It’s been getting the enigmatic speedster to consistently produce it when it matters most.

On Wednesday night at Ballarat, Crackerjack Ralf reminded everyone exactly what he’s capable of.

Crackerjack Ralf wins his Pink Diamond Champion Sprinter heat from box three.

The son of Hooked On Scotch and Maximum Shirley, powered to victory in a heat of the Pink Diamond Champion Sprinter (450m), recording the fastest time of the night with a blistering 24.98-second performance despite cold and wet conditions.

The run was five lengths outside Hotel Whisky One’s 450m track record.

“When I looked at the clock, I wasn’t surprised,” Cooper said.

“But then you start thinking about the conditions and imagining what he might have run on a hot track.”

The decision to target the Pink Diamond series almost didn’t happen.

After a disappointing performance as one of the favourites in a heat of the Group 1 Harrison-Dawson against Dewana Star, Cooper opted for an unconventional confidence-building exercise.

He took Crackerjack Ralf coursing at Lang Lang.

The two-dog hit-out behind the drag lure proved exactly what the talented chaser needed.

A missed nomination at Horsham followed before Cooper settled on Ballarat – a track where Crackerjack Ralf had already shown plenty of promise as a youngster when producing a near track-record trial over 390 metres.

The result was a performance that reaffirmed Cooper’s belief.

“Dewana Star is a genuine star, and he’s continually been able to show that on the big stage,” Cooper said.

“Ralf has the same ability, but he hasn’t been able to put it together when it has counted yet.”

“He is the fastest dog I’ve bred.”

The Pink Diamond series concludes at Bendigo on June 12, with 12 feature finals to be decided.

Cooper is hoping for a middle draw when box draws are conducted live on the Watchdog App from 1pm on Tuesday.

“I’d love boxes three, four or five,” he said.

“I don’t think he suits box one on bend starts.”

The final round of heats takes place at Shepparton on Saturday night and features several headline acts.

Unbeaten youngster Liddell headlines Race 6 when she clashes with experienced campaigner Sharapova Star in a Short Course heat over 390m.

Attention then turns to Race 7 where Harrison-Dawson winner Dewana Star returns to one of his favourite venues for a Champion Sprinter heat against a quality field that includes Phoenix winner Deadly Avenger.

Should Dewana Star qualify, racing fans could be treated to a mouth-watering showdown between Dewana Star and Crackerjack Ralf in next Friday night’s Pink Diamond Champion Sprinter Final at Bendigo.