If there were swimming races for greyhounds, veteran Solo Fernando would be Group One class but the rising five-year-old is no slouch on the racetrack either.
When he lined up for his 161st race at Richmond on Sunday, he was chasing his 34th win in a career that has garnered his many connections over $86,000.
Logan Howden, a roof tiler from Budgewoi, is the fifth trainer Solo Fernando has had, but according to Howden, "he won't ever be going anywhere else.''
When he was gifted Solo Fernando two years ago, the dog became the first greyhound Howden had trained.
Remarkably versatile, Solo Fernando, or "Jimmy" as he is known in the Howden household, has posted fast times like 21.95 for 388m at Gosford, 22.19 and 25.07 over 400m and 450m at Maitland, while at Richmond he has clocked 22.63 over 401m, 30.32 over 520m and 36.57 for the 622m trip.
And he has broken 30sec for the Wentworth Park 520m journey, stopping the clock at 29.99 in November, 2024.
"I never trial Solo Fernando, I keep him fit by swimming him regularly at Swansea and in Chain Valley Bay at Lake Macquarie,'' Howden said.
"He absolutely loves it, and he is thriving on this routine because going into Sunday's race at Richmond he had recorded four wins and a second from his previous five starts.
"Jimmy sleeps all day, he is the most laid-back dog you could ever imagine, and while he would be capable of running every seven days a week, he relishes the swimming him between races.''
'Jimmy' taking a nap at home
It was fitting that Neil Staines should win first up at Wentworth Park on Thursday with Royal Bandit, owned by the Andy Lord syndicate Clover Park Racing, as it was Jodie Lord, Andy's wife, who persuaded Staines to become a professional trainer.
Staines said: "I was a shearer who trained a few dogs as a hobby until 2011 when Jodie convinced me I could make a go at training full-time.
"Until then I had been combining shearing with training a few greyhounds as a hobby.
"But I must admit there have been times when I've been having a lean trot that I've been tempted to head back to the shearing sheds.
"Five months back Andy and Jodie approached me and inquired if I was interested in training some dogs for them.
"When I agreed I was instructed not to replace any of my team so they could fill up any kennels which became empty.
"I started training for Andy and Jodie two months ago and almost won my first WP treble on Thursday because apart from winning with Pure Silver, a dog I own, Royal Bandit's litter sister Bandit Blaze made the pace before finishing second.
"But I've always said a trainer is only as good as what is on the end of the lead and I still believe in that.''
