Radar Gunn Makes Winning Mandurah Return

OWNER Jayson Gunning was riding a winning high on Friday, and complimentary for all those involved, after Radar Gunn made a successful return to racing 11 months after breaking a hock.

Radar Gunn (Magic Sprite-Miss Barcia) landed a 490m 5th-6th grade at Mandurah on Thursday night in 27.66.

Now under the training of Greg and Jo Horne at Nambeelup, Radar Gunn's successful return to racing has been plotted for months in a “gently, gently” training routine to get her back to the track.

“I suppose she was something to bet on in a fifth and sixth grade at Mandurah and coming off the rails,” said Gunning.

“She had been in two Group 1s in her previous three starts.”

Those runs were back in October and November last year.

“For all intents and purposes she was retired from racing when she broke her hock,” said Gunning.

“All credit to vet Jason Beck and then Jeff and Jane Crawford who nursed her through the initial period after the break.”

Radar Gunn was sent back to WA to the kennels of Greg and Jo Horne late in January.

“We took the screws out of the leg in May/June but with Jason beck in consultation all the time,” said Gunning.

“Then Greg very slowly worked her up his straight over a very long time to get her fit again and ready to race again.

“She had one trial to be cleared by the stewards because she had not raced for such a long time, and went into the race at Mandurah fit but needing race fitness. The bitch just wants to be back on the track.”

Gunning was over the moon with the successful return.

Radar Gunn is three years and three months old and Gunning and Horne are adamant she will not be knocked around during this campaign. Her real worth is as a broodbitch.

“We will just carry on from now and the bitch will tell us herself what she is ready for on the racetrack,” said Gunning.

He was ever aware of the job Ian and Kerry Hoggan did rearing and educating the bitch and her littermates.