By Jordan Gerrans
Whenever Mathew Vincent hears a race caller proclaim his home-bred chaser Hotel Whisky One is on the way to victory, he cannot help but get overwhelmed.
It is not just when the brindle dog is in a race when the Warner-based trainer gets a bit teary.
It is also when friends, family or people within the greyhound industry refer to the greyhound’s moniker.
Before turning his hand to preparing greyhounds, Vincent was previously in the Army, which he refers to as the best period of his life before his children were born.
In the Army, when Vincent would pick up the radio to speak to his colleagues, he would use the call sign to identify himself as ‘Hotel Whisky One’.
“I get really emotional about it all,” Vincent said.
He was artillery in the Army in Townsville.
After reaching a few black-type Finals in the Sunshine State earlier in his career, Vincent’s poignantly-named chaser gets his best chance yet to nab a Group-level victory on Friday evening in the Bendigo Cup.
“I get emotional every time I hear someone say the dog’s name,” Vincent said.
Hotel Whisky One has drawn the five for the 425 metre Group 2 Final in Victoria.
He landed in the decider following a sharp heat victory in 23.54 seconds last Friday.