She may have only taken out a one to five wins 720m fifth grade at Wentworth Park on Saturday night but Skinny Juan has the makings of a top class long-distance performer according to her trainer Harry Sarkis.
Skinny Juan came from third early to win by nearly nine lengths in a nippy 42.15, taking her tally over 720m at Wentworth Park to two wins from four starts.
After the race Sarkis, who has trained champions like Tenthill Doll, Black Aztec, Spoken Joe and great long-distance bitch Kirsty's Charity, said: "In four months’ time I expect Skinny Juan to be a powerhouse stayer.
"She is still only 22 months old so has it all before her.''
While many experts consider greyhounds should not tackle long distances until they are nearly three years old, Sarkis describes that theory as "rubbish.''
He said: "A lot of people have dogs getting bashed around in sprints because they consider them too young to go over long distances but by the time they test them their dogs are no longer keen through suffering so much interference in short races.
"I won three 720m races at Wentworth Park with Skinny Juan's dam Big Skinny but this bitch is much better than her mother.''
South Coast trainer Glen Goodwin showed a keen eye for talent when he purchased former West Australian Kiss Me Augie after the greyhound had won two races at Perth's Cannington.
On Saturday night Kiss Me Augie raced wide all the way from box two but ran down pacemaker Kettle Head to win a 520m fifth grade in 30.19.
She wants an outside box so while I was a bit disappointed with her time tonight I was pleased with how she went,'' Goodwin said.
"That was the first time Kiss Me Augie had been out of the Wentworth Park boxes because while she had a trial at the track that was only a post-to-post slip. when she clocked 24.40.''
Trainer Syd Swain has no big interstate plans for Toodles Jack despite the youngster's impressive all-the-way win in a smart 29.78 in Saturday night's NSW GBOTA Maiden Final, 520m.
"I wasn't surprised when he jumped well and led from box five because when I got him to the track tonight Toodles Jack seemed really fired up,'' Swain said.
"He weighed 35.2kg tonight and I think he can go a bit better at a slightly lighter weight but I'll just keep bringing him back to race at Wenty.''
Secrets Revealed, a member of the sport's currently most successful litter, recorded a personal best 29.63 in his all-the-way win in a 520m fifth grade on Saturday night.
The son of Flying Ricciardo and Poco Dorado had not previously broken 30sec at Wentworth Park but he reeled off smart early splits of 5.48 and 13.79 on Saturday before running home in a tidy 11.79.
After the race Courtney Barnes, whose mother-in-law Minnie Finn trains Secrets Revealed, said: "It's amazing how much this dog has improved recently.
"Not so long ago he was the slowest in the litter.''
Secrets Revealed was the first leg of a winning double for Minnie Finn, who took out a 520m fifth grade with Zipping Bonucci in a fast 29.63.
Quickest times of the night were not surprisingly posted by Jodie Lord's Nangar Larry and the Sam Sultana-trained Bailey Bear who took out the top graded 520m races in 29.58 and 29.55 respectively.
