Rockstar Apollo is set to embark on a group 1 National Derby campaign if he takes out tonight's first heat of the North vs South Challenge at Dapto when he will exit box one.
Last Thursday the Shaun Evans-trained Rockstar Apollo, having his first start for three months, bolted away with a 520m fifth grade in 29.72, time which equalled the fastest of the group 1 Dapto Megastar heats, posted by On The Bus.
Rockstar Apollo's dazzling all-the-way win last week came after the dog underwent a "delicate" operation to remove a testicle, which had prevented him racing since September.
"He has always been talented but we discovered he had a testicle caught up between his hind legs,'' trainer Shaun Evans said.
"Obviously that would have restricted his galloping and since that was removed, Rockstar Apollo has been airborne.
"Heats of the National Derby are on at Wentworth Park on January 13 and that race is the long range plan for this dog.''
Jayson Gunning, a wharf labourer from Fremantle, WA, made the long trip across to Wentworth Park on Wednesday night to watch his previously unraced greyhound Lagoon Gunn clock fastest heat time in the 520m Maiden Series.
Trained by Ray Webster at Cawdor, Lagoon Gunn overcame a tardy getaway to rail to the lead entering the back straight before racing away to score by four lengths in 29.83.
The other heat was taken out by the Mick Hardman-prepared Zipping Mahalia, who led all the way in a slick 29.91.
After Lagoon Gunn's win Gunning said: "I grew up in Sydney, in fact a stone's throw from Wenty Park.
"I'm 55 now and have been going to greyhound race meetings since I was five years old.
"I bred Lagoon Gunn from my bitch Nanza Gunn, who had only 23 starts because she was injury prone but who won eight races in WA.
"The litter she whelped to Superior Panama in April last year, which includes Lagoon Gunn, is pretty handy, because a litter brother named Mighty Gunn, has won two from four starts.''
First four in each of Wednesday's Maiden heats will contest the $10,000 to the winner final at Wentworth Park on December 17.
FORBES trainer Errol Hughes has endured the heartbreak of virtually having his home destroyed by floods twice within a month so plenty of his pals are cheering the good form of his bitch Daisy's Girl.
Daisy's Girl's close second at Dubbo last Saturday night took her tally to three wins, four seconds and a third from her past eight starts while Palawa King, raced by Hughes but trained by Jack Smith, broke through for his first Wentworth Park win in a 720m event last Saturday.
"I've been on this property at FORBES for 30 years but after the second flood went through a week or so ago it has damaged my home so badly it will have to be pulled down,'' Hughes said.
There is plenty of greyhound racing history attached to Hughes' property, as it was purchased from Jack Smith, of Feral Franky and Jungle Deuce fame, and was originally owned by Smith's uncle, legendary Sydney trainer John Finn.
