Absolute Gunn Shooting For Middle Distance Success

By Jeff Collerson

Absolute Gunn, a litter brother to Nowra 520m track record holder Aphorism, looks poised to become a middle distance star following his Dapto 600m win last Thursday night.

Absolute Gunn led throughout to clock 34.41, which was only 0.07 outside the course record held by Fantastic Tail.

Leading WA trainer Jayson Gunning owns Absolute Gunn but sent the greyhound to Sydney trainer Ray Webster for the Dapto Puppy Classic in April.

Absolute Gunn failed to shine in the Puppy Classic but showed a glimpse of his stamina by finishing second at his first middle distance test on May 14.

Webster and his wife Sharron are holidaying in Canada so it was left to caretaker trainer John Antonelli to look after Absolute Gunn this preparation.

“I did not trial him between his first middle distance outing and his 600m race at Dapto last Thursday,” Antonelli said.

“That was a gap of 12 days but once greyhounds are fit, and providing they are holding their weight, they don't need constant trialling.

“All I did with Absolute Gunn between races was to give him two hand-slips up the straight because I've always believed many trainers tend to trial their dogs too often.”

Antonelli should know. He has been one of the sport's quiet achievers for more than six decades

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Most Arrogant achieved a significant milestone for trainer Len Haaring when she won over 450m at Bathurst last Monday.

When the daughter of El Grand Senor and Kayla Enlim led throughout she chalked up a century of wins for the litter, which were whelped in April 2012.

That is a remarkable feat and while Most Arrogant is the most successful family member with 26 wins from 103 starts, her sister Isabel Enlim is no slouch either, having won 23 of 103 appearances.

Another sister, Kayla's Tiger, has won 17 of 111 starts while brother Pure Arrogance has won 19 times from 75 visits to the racetrack.

Lenny Enlim, meanwhile won 13 of 55 races, while another sister Stunning Lass had two wins from 32 races.

The durability of the six litter members who have been competitive in 479 races, is also a tribute to hobby trainer Haaring's ability as a trainer.

Haaring, who manages a supermarket and is president of the MUDGEE club, marked his greyhounds' success by producing at Bathurst last Monday a timber sign signifying 100 wins, later celebrating with fellow trainers over a glass or two of Champagne.

“I tried Most Arrogant over 520m a week before her 450m win but while she is still speedy out of the boxes that experiment over the longer trip ended in failure,” Haaring conceded.

“The four members of the litter still racing are not what they were when they began their careers but they are still going okay.

“They are eligible for Masters races and I'll nominate a couple for that type of race which is programmed for Dubbo this week.”

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Maya Herrera is set to make her first Wentworth Park appearance in the wake of her brilliant 29.81 Dapto 520m win last Thursday night.

The Garry Edwards-trained greyhound defeated boom youngster Megsie Marble, turning the tables on that greyhound who had defeated her in the Nowra Puppy Classic on April 16.

“I was only training Maya Herrera for a few weeks before the Nowra Puppy Classic heats and when she finished second to Megsie Marble in the final my greyhound clocked 29.72 getting beaten,” Edwards said.

“She wasn't firing as well as expected when I first got her but I changed her training routine and tweaked her diet and she has come good.

“I will probably trial her after the last race at Wentworth Park next Saturday night and if she goes okay I will nominate her for Wenty the following week.”