Minion
24 February, 2016
Greyhound
An early race will assist the prospects of Minion when the greybeard chaser contests a Mixed 3/4 grade over 405m at Tabtouch Park on Friday according to trainer Ernie Alldrick.
112 start veteran turned five-years-old earlier this month and while he’s not competing in the top grades like he was in his pomp he’s still racing in fine form.
Minion’s last four attempts have produced a win and two runner-up placings.
Another forward showing is on the cards in Friday’s race where he has the benefit of an inside draw but more importantly he’ll go around in the first half of the night in race 4.
“He plays up in the kennels and can wear himself out so if we get a late race, say from eight onwards, we’re stuffed,” Alldrick explained.
“His best performances generally come when he’s in an early race.”
Alldrick admits that the blue Velocette-Hidden Cost chaser has a tendency to be overactive, so much so that the Barragup trainer joked that he should have called the dog ‘ADHD’.
It’s a trait that works against Minion while he’s cooling his heels in the kennels but has also been a big reason for his success and longevity.
“He loves trialling, he loves training, he loves work and he loves racing,” Alldrick said.
“He just loves running and he never pulls up sore.
“He’s a tough little thing and that’s the way he races. He thinks he’s Mike Tyson.”