No trainer has enjoyed a more successful run of success recently than Wilton-based John Little, who won with Mr Writer at Wentworth Park last Monday night.
In recent weeks Little’s team of 10, comprising youngsters from only two litters, has been almost unstoppable around the provincials.
His latest TAB winners have been Menin Gate, who has won three races, Blue’s Revival (eight wins), Strange Energy (one provincial win and a third placing at Wentworth Park), Honey Twist (won first up) and Mr Writer (four wins, including Wentworth Park).
His other notables include Replacing Diana and Razor Blaze (two wins each), Benjy Backflip (one win), Pedro Cerrano (four wins from five starts) and Son Of Harrods five outings for a win, three seconds and a third.
Little rates Pedro Cerrano the star of his handy line-up.
“He has good early speed but is strong enough and after clocking 26.49 to win his first Bulli 472m race I have no doubt he will run 520m at Wentworth Park,’’ Little said.
Pedro Cerrano went even faster at Bulli last Wednesday, leading throughout to defeat boom youngster Once A DRIFTER in a smart 26.46.
The 75-year-old Little grew up around greyhounds on his family’s dairy farm at Ettrick, near Kyogle in the NSW Northern Rivers region.
“My father Eddie was a good judge of greyhounds and was a close friend of Ernie Boyd, a neighbouring dairy farmer who was a highly successful trainer and breeder,’’ recalled Little.
“Ernie Boyd won hundreds of races up north but would send his best greyhounds to Sydney trainer Percy Redcliffe.
“They combined to win the 1969 Peter Mosman Classic at Harold Park with Silent Ring, and also raced the top class Wentworth Park bitches Mac’s Gem and Glamareena.
“I got my first greyhound, Oakburn Lass, when I was 18 and she won first-up at Grafton. “But when she was beaten at her second start I felt as if my whole world had collapsed around me!
“Ernie Boyd was my training mentor but his technique was simple.
“Feed good and train hard were his basic methods, and to this day I believe if you feed your dogs good beef and kibble and keep them sound they will do the rest for you.
“As a teenager I reared the top class bitch Glamour Sue for Ernie Boyd but the pup I received out of the deal, Swanee Moon, was the “dud’’ of the litter.
“I have not had any champions but have loved every minute I have spent in the sport."
Little's adventure in the sport started in earnest when he moved to Wollongong as a 21-year-old.
“While working on the railways and in the coal mines there I always trained a few greyhounds as well," he said.
“Best I have trained would be Mag’s All Over, who had 24 wins, 16 seconds and a dozen thirds from 81 starts around 2003.
“He won several Wentworth Park races and was also successful in Melbourne for my mate Terry Reid.
“Three years later I trained a handy dog called Rinaldi, who had 13 wins and 20 seconds and was a Wentworth Park winner.
“Best stayer I have trained would be Classic Isle, who won a heat of the National Distance Championship at Wentworth Park and finished third in the state final.’’
John Little’s connection with greyhounds even continued when he married June Boon, who passed away in 2003.
“June’s mother Mabel Boon trained all the “Rhonda’’ greyhounds including Silver Rhonda and Come On Rhonda, who could stay forever and won three consecutive marathon races,’’ Little recalled.
“Although I have met some wonderful people in the greyhound game, the best times I have had with dogs were while racing on the Appin straight track. There’s something about straight track racing I really enjoy.
“Bulli is my favourite track but I have had plenty of luck recently at Dapto and it is a very good track if you have a front-running greyhound.
“As far as the best greyhound I’ve seen, it is Zoom Top by a country mile.
“She could beat the best greyhounds in Australia over any distance and her late trainer Hec Watt was good for the sport because he trekked all over, even to fairly remote country tracks, to let people see her in action.’’
