Caption: Yengarie (southern Qld) trainer Peter Hare with Stinger Noir … his star sprinter on the comeback trail.

By MIKE HILL

SOUTHERN Queensland trainer Peter Hare is a happy man.

He\’s back training, his star sprinter Stinger Noir is \’looking good\’ on the comeback trail and he has just secured a much sought-after pup – a half-brother to \’Stinger\’.

Originally from Rockhampton and now living at Yengarie, near Maryborough, Hare has been involved in greyhound racing for more than 40 years.

He\’s been a trainer, bookmaker and, in more recent years, a successful owner as well as being involved in other ventures.

Last July, while speaking to Chase, Hare said he\’d love to get back into training when he retired.

Well, he pulled the plug on work late in the year and decided to again pick up the lead and collar.

Hare has been challenged by one of the two dogs he is racing at present – Tevita Shadow – \’but it\’s fun and he\’s won four races for me at Bundaberg\’.

\”He\’s a testing dog,\” the trainer said. \”He won\’t eat properly and it\’s hard to keep weight on him. It\’s not easy-going with him.\”

The black dog (Worm Burner-Sidney\’s Shadow) was unplaced at his first Bundy run for Hare in late December, but kicked off the new year with back-to-back wins before landing another two in February.

His other sprinter – Blackpool Armour – only joined his kennels recently.

Hare would like to eventually have four or five dogs in work, but what has him excited the most at present is the way super sprinter Stinger Noir is coming back from a serious hock injury.

\”He\’s only going up the straight track at present but he\’s flying,\” Hare said.

It\’s been a long process for the talented black chaser (Zambora Brockie-Lilly Sur Seine) after suffering the severe injury to the off-side hock in the TAB Million Dollar Chase Consolation (520m) at Wentworth Park in mid-October.

\”He spent a month in full plaster, another month in half plaster and three weeks free walking,\” the trainer said.

\”The vet then took an X-ray of the injured leg and said it was one of the best alignments he\’d seen.

\”After another six weeks on the lead I gave him his first gallop in the competition runs I have here.

\”I closed my eyes and hoped for the best as he took off at a hundred miles an hour.

\”Next day he was fine … and he\’s flying now.

\”He\’s probably six to eight weeks away from returning to the track. I\’ll speak to Mick and Selena Zammit before then.\”

Under the Zammits\’ guidance, Stinger Noir became the premier sprinter at Albion Park last July and August – stringing together six successive wins in FFA class including a 29.61s PB run.

\”He\’s a real good dog,\” said Hare proudly. \”In the kennel he has a great temperament but once you put the lead and collar on him he\’s a maniac.

\”He\’d absolutely run through a brick wall.\”

Hare is confident Stinger Noir can return to the track.

\”But if he doesn\’t come up for some reason, I\’ll pull the pin and retire him,\” he said.

Hare is even considering a possible stud career for the black dog – a member of a super hot litter that includes Sequana, No Easy Beat and Made In America.

And the trainer has big hopes for a male pup he has been lucky enough to secure from Lilly Sur Seine\’s latest litter to up-and-coming young sire My Redeemer.

\”Stinger Noir cost me a bit over $2000 … this pup was considerably dearer,\” he said.

But Hare\’s happy … and he knows he\’s one of the lucky ones.