2020 Gawler Classic Final
The feature event at Gawler’s Sunday night greyhound race meeting, was the running of the 2020 Gawler Classic Final.
The event is part of a paid up Series of races for SA Bred greyhounds whelped in the second half of 2018, and attracted a full field of eight runners. Run over 531m distance, Zinfandel Tori from box 3 was fast away, to lead the favourite runner, Fly For Trix (7) out of the straight the first time around. On the turn however, Fly For Trix was checked in running, which allowed Zinfandel Tori to open up a four length break on the field. Down the back straight. Oakvale Style (6) was starting to run on well, and Fly For Trix had been able to regain his momentum, so an interesting finish was on the cards. However Oakvale Style proved to be too strong in the finish, going on to win by six lengths in a good time of 30.94 secs. Second was Fly For Trix for Jane McNicholl of Williamstown, and Zinfandel Tori finished third for Vadim Roz of Lewiston.
Oakvale Style is trained by Nathan Wilson, and is raced in partnership with his wife Kerri. Nathan and Kerri breed all their own stock, and have had an exciting and rewarding time in the industry. It all began when Nathan and Kerri, along with his sister Mel and her husband Ken, started going to the greyhounds at Angle Park, about ten years ago. Enjoying the racing as spectators, they decided to become owners, the result being that they soon bred a litter, which started a breeding line that among others, produced Oakvale Destiny, the mother of Oakvale Style. Oakvale Destiny won the prestigious Sapphire Crown race in 2014, which is run in Victoria, and she has also won in other states, winning a total of nearly $280 000 in the process.
Based in Pinnaroo, Nathan is a cereal farmer there, in addition to his interesting greyhound hobby. With a racing team of ten racing dogs, there is plenty of work and travel involved to make it a success. While the current racing team should have long careers ahead of them, Nathan is looking to breed from a couple of his females, something in which Kerri takes the lead role.
Nathan is keen to support the industry as well, and has recently decided to help out as Vice President of the Murray Bridge Club, which at an hour away from Pinnaroo, is his “local” track. Nathan and Kerri like working with greyhounds because of their special nature, and enjoy the people involved that they have met, both locally and interstate.
Racing continues in the regular timeslots of Wednesday afternoon and Sunday nights, and the public is welcome back on track. Sunday nights are very popular, so for a great night out, please book with the Club on 8522 2935.
Picture: L to R: Bob May, (Gawler GRC secretary), Mike Wittholz (Gawler GRC Chairman), Nathan Wilson, Grantley Stevens (Greyhound Racing SA Chairman) and Oakvale Style
Credit Kurt Donsberg Photography