A day of doubles at The Mount - Mount Gambier Week in Review
Another 100 winners for Price
The first-up win of 18-month-old greyhound Fawn Beast in last Sunday’s Klaassens Contractors Maiden Stake (305 metres) at Tara Raceway brought up Compton trainer Tracie Price’s 100th winner this year at the local track.
And there have also been other winners this year for the widely-travelled trainer – at Murray Bridge, where he won the Straight Track Cup with Wild Banker, Horsham and Warrnambool.
The win of Fawn Beast would have brought back fond memories for Price of her dam Minnie Banjo who he won 16 races with in late 2021 and the first half of 2022 at Mount Gambier, Angle Park and Murray Bridge.
He also won 22 races in 2022 with litter brother Giant’s Flash, a son of Banjo Boy x Navada Flame, at Mount Gambier and Angle Park.
In fact, Minnie Banjo on February 6, 2022 ran a Mount Gambier 400 metre track record of 22.42 seconds which still stands today. Also still standing is Giant’s Flash’s 600 metre track record of 34.58 seconds which was run on December 4 of the same year.
Interestingly, it was in 2022 that Price’s 100 winners at the local track came up on July 24 when Minnie Banjo – who would race on only two more occasions – defeated Our Ando over 400 metres.
Five winners for Price on two occasions at Tara Raceway this year have certainly added to the tally.
On February 18 Compton Lass, Lakeview Heather, Current Model, Wild Star and Compton Charlie were successful as were Aston Zeppelin, Aston Cherokee, Hooked On Love, Aston Verona and Aston Butters on May 19.
And Price was also quick to heap praise on the people around him.
“Look, with an operation of this size you need plenty of reliable help on a day to day basis and at the track on trial and race days,” he said.
“My wife Karen and I are fortunate to have some terrific helpers – my kids Sarah and Ben as well as Garry Harding, Mo Canala, Hamish Thomson and Stuey, Pat and Liam Sharam. I can’t thank them enough.”
Meanwhile, Portland owner-trainer Nifty Lenehan was back at Tara Raceway with Smokin’ Chicken, a son of Allen Deed and Little Queeny, who three weeks prior had made his debut over 305 metres.
On that occasion, and after a poor start, the white and fawn dog had worked home well for a three length second placing behind Weblec Blossom.
Smokin’ Chicken stepped up to 400 metres last Sunday when jumping from box one in the Todd’s Photographics Maiden Stake. And he came out running, leading all the way for a 5½ length win over Lektra Twyla in a tidy time of 23.38 seconds.
Lenehan bred the litter in partnership with Penshurst-based John Cameron who had raced Little Queeny, a well-bred daughter of US sire KC And All and Lektra Kelly – a multiple 600 metre winner at Tara Raceway.
Little Queeny’s race record of two wins from 39 starts is not over-flattering but from his half of the litter Cameron has come up with a handy performer in Smart Operator who has now raced on 30 more occasions than Smokin’ Chicken and won five races.
Now, Lenehan and Cameron are looking to breed a second litter.
“We’re keen to have another go with her,” Lenehan said. “This time we’re looking at using Shima Shine who we reckon ticks all the right boxes when it comes to finding the right stud dog for her.”
It had been back on Sunday, March 24 that Southern Cross owner-trainer Garry Elliott last tasted success at Tara Raceway. On that day it was with Lightning Pest who won over the 512 metre journey in a quick 29.66 seconds.
Last Sunday he returned with Sit And Wait who had run second to Gypsy Chick at the previous meeting in what had been the son of Zipping Garth x Daniel’s Loss’s third run back from a lengthy spell.
Lining up from box one in the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 Stake (400 m), Sit And Wait led all the way when defeating Lektra Layla by 3¾ lengths in 23.19 seconds.
And according to Elliott, this was a win to savour.
“He was purchased from Ipswich at the end of last year after having won six races but it wasn’t until March that he won at Warrnambool. Soon after he broke a hock and to be honest I didn’t really expect that he would race again.
“Five months later, though, he resumed at Warrnambool where he was well beaten at his first two runs back. However, they were pretty tough races so I decided to bring him over to Mount Gambier.
“I reckon that has worked pretty well.”
And at Angle Park on Monday night the Captain Abbott owned and trained Top Cadillac stormed home to run third over 530 metres. He now looks set to play a big part in Mount Gambier’s SA Country Cup heats on Sunday afternoon.
A day of doubles at the dogs
One thing’s for sure, Rochester couple Darren Petersen and Aroha Hemingway certainly don’t seem to mind clocking up the kilometres in their quest for a winner or two.
They were at Tara Raceway last week for the time-graded meeting and it was Hemingway, training greyhounds for only two years, who was successful with Good Girl Kiwi.
Lining up in the Commercial Hotel Maiden Stake (305 metres) from box seven, the daughter of Good Odds Harada and Jilliby Caz was chasing her first win from 13 starts when leading all the way for a four length win over Yanco Boy in 18.25 seconds.
Hemingway then landed an early double – her second at the track in a month – when American Boy led all the way in the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 TG1-4W Stake (400 m) and defeated Archer Three by three-quarters of a length in 23.63 seconds.
Good Girl Kiwi’s month included trips to Mount Gambier (twice), Murray Bridge, Shepparton and Horsham while American Boy raced at Geelong, Shepparton, Murray Bridge, Gawler and Mount Gambier.
And just to put the travelling in perspective, Rochester – 30 kilometres from Echuca – is close to 500 kilometres from Mount Gambier.
Actually, it was a day of doubles at last week’s meeting with Edenhope-based Captain Abbott, Doug Hammerstein (Ararat) and Jack Trengove (Two Wells) also training two winners each.
For Abbott it was his 13th double this year at Tara Raceway after Cadillac Burns led all the way in the Produce Store TG5+W Stake (400 m) for a 4¼ length win over Pace To Burn in 23.58 seconds.
Making it a running double for the Cadillac Racing team was Argyle Kinloch who also led throughout when defeating Marionvale Gal by five lengths in the Winning Post Supplies TG5+W Stake (400 m) in 23.26 seconds.
The Hammerstein trained Rev Querida also led all the way in the Carlin & Gazzard TG5+W Stake (512 m), proving too strong by four lengths for Cadillac Patch in 30.09 seconds.
Raced by Hammerstein’s son Paul, the winner is by Shima Shine out of JD Revelation and is from a litter that includes Sandown Park and The Meadows winner Rev Rose, a winner of more than $42,000 in prize money for Toolleen owner-trainer Daniel Pell.
Pell is also is the owner-trainer of Bun Storm, winner of last week’s SA Oaks (530 m) at Angle Park. A daughter of Irish sire Droopys Sydney, she’s out of Gypsy Bun, a winner of $189,000 in prize money and a finalist in the 2021 Mount Gambier Cup when in the hands of Nifty Lenehan of Portland.
Hammerstein wrapped up the day with a win in the Williams Crane Hire TG1-4W Stake (400 m) with February 2023 youngster Is He Lucky who was always travelling like a winner when defeating Soda Nibbles by 5¼ lengths in a best of day 23.11 seconds.
The Hammerstein team purchased the well-bred sons of Beast Unleashed and Made Me Blind as pups with the youngsters having now both won two races.
The Two Wells-based Trengove kicked off his day with a win in the Icon Signs TG1-4W Stake (305 m) with She’s A Ladybird who never looked like losing when leading all the way and defeating Sophie’s Beast by 3¾ lengths in 18.16 seconds.
And he also picked up the $1,215 to the winner Federal Hotel Fast Forward TG1-4W final (512 m) with Conspired who took the lead down the back straight and went away to a 2¼ length win over Magic Tom in 30.15 seconds.
Purchased by Trengove after having won three races at Traralgon, Healesville and Warragul, Conspired has now won two races in SA, the black dog having previously won at Murray Bridge back in July.
He’s by Deliver, a winner of 22 races from 42 starts and the sire of four litters.
Meanwhile, a maximum of two heats of the 2024 $4000 SA Country Cup (512 m) will be run at this Sunday’s meeting as well as at Gawler. The Murray Bridge heats have already been conducted.
Each club will have two representatives in the $8500 final which will be run at Angle Park over 530 metres on Adelaide Cup final night on Friday, October 11.
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Projects Co-ordinator pays club a visit
Amy Loechel, Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA) Special Projects Co-ordinator, was in Mount Gambier for last Thursday’s race meeting at Tara Raceway and to check out the ongoing clubroom refurbishment.
The $800,000 project includes upgrades to the toilets and bar, a new entrance with wheelchair access adjacent to the patrons’ car park and a revamp of the club office which also includes an area for the club manager.
The ceiling fans and wood heater will be replaced with reverse cycle air conditioning. And Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club (MGGRC) president, Noel Perry, is hopeful there will be sufficient funds and space in the complex for a committee room.
“This has been a really good project here at Mount Gambier and I’m very happy with the way it’s progressing,” Loechel said.
“The next project to follow down here will be a Greyhound Education Circuit (GEC). We are now seeking quotes for this project which we believe will serve as a valuable resource in the training process for industry participants.”
The first on-site GEC in SA is set to open at the Murray Bridge track on October 1. This will be for use by registered GRSA trainers and handlers who have attended one of three Toolbox Safety Talks.
And as far as projects are concerned, Loechel still has plenty on the go following her involvement with a proposed Greyhounds As Pets (GAP) facility to be established at Murray Bridge.
The Projects Co-ordinator, who has been with GRSA for the past 15 months on a part-time basis after having previously worked in local government, is certainly no stranger to greyhound racing.
“I grew up with greyhounds,” she said. “My father Neville has been active in the sport for as long as I can remember. These days he’s involved at the Murray Bridge Greyhound Racing Club and also continues to enjoy the racing side.”
In fact, Neville Loechel’s Weblec line could hold a strong hand in next month’s SA Country Cup (530 metres) final at Angle Park on Adelaide Cup night.
This follows the win of his brindle bitch Weblec Marquise, trained by Damien Smith, in the first 530 metre heat last Friday in 30.24 seconds.
Joining Weblec Marquise will be the Yvonne Maxwell owned and trained blue dog Dayne’s Calais who won the second heat in 30.12 seconds.
Interestingly, the heat winners – sired by Kinloch Brae and Sennachie – are out of litter sisters Weblec Diamond and Weblec Spice who are by Barcia Bale x Weblec Belle.
Meanwhile, Industry Engagement Forums (IEF) are to be held SA’s four greyhound tracks – Mount Gambier, Gawler, Murray Bridge and Angle Park – in October and November.
GRSA is extending an invitation to all registered participants – owners, trainers and breeders – to attend one of the four IEFs in order to look at the current challenges and plan ahead for the future.
The MGGRC’s forum will be held at Tara Raceway, Lake Terrace East on Monday, October 28, commencing at 7 p.m. All registered owners, trainers and breeders are encouraged to attend.
Registrations are essential with RSVP required by Monday, October 21 to [email protected].
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Winning day for Mount Gambier GOTY contenders
Purified, Top Cadillac and Mister Cadillac, currently well clear in the 2024 Mount Gambier Greyhound of the Year (GOTY) award, wrapped up a big day at Tara Raceway last Sunday when winning the final three races on the 12-event program.
And for the trainers involved – Jason Newman of Moorak and Edenhope-based Captain Abbott – it is a case of both chasing another Mount Gambier GOTY win.
In 2022 Newman was successful with Departure Gate, winner of the Mount Gambier Cup that year and GOTY with 70 points – 15 wins and five seconds. The year prior it was Abbott’s Another Pick who accumulated 72 points after winning 12 races and running nine seconds and six thirds.
In last Sunday’s final race, the Greg Martlew Autos Open Stake (512 metres), the Lena Dureikina owned and Newman trained Purified led early from box four before settling in third spot down the back.
The daughter of Fernando Bale x Mepunga Spectre then finished strongly in the home straight to defeat Sweet Secret by a half head in 30.03 seconds and take her GOTY tally for this year to 43 points (8, 5, 3).
With GOTY points awarded only on Category 2 (Sunday) meetings, distances over 305 metres and 400 metres are scored on a 3, 2, 1 basis. An extra point is allocated to the winners of the longer races.
Top Cadillac, a half-brother to the legendary SA stayer Sir Truculent, moved into second spot on the GOTY list with 42 points after a dashing win for Abbott in the Todd’s Photographics Mixed Stake (600 m).
In front at the winning post the first around, from then on the son of Feral Franky and Establish was never headed when running out a 4¾ length winner over Warringah Bale in 34.78 seconds.
The win gave Top Cadillac – purchased at 10 months of age for $8000 – 42 GOTY points, made up of nine wins, two seconds and two thirds.
And Mister Cadillac, also owned and trained by Abbott, led all the way in the Klaassens Contractors Open Stake (400 m) for a 3½ length win over Shore’s Pick in a smart 22.85 seconds.
The win was the son of Magical Bale and Koa Lass’s fourth this year. The wins complement his 13 seconds and three thirds and now have him sitting in third spot on 41 GOTY points.
Meanwhile, Newman’s winning day commenced back in race four with Hotfoot Swizzle who scored an easy five length win in the Federal Hotel (1-3 wins) Stake, the second heat of a grade six series over 512 metres.
The daughter of My Redeemer and Skywise is raced in partnership with Michael Phillips and David Blench and has now won four races – two of those in September.
Two races later, in the Commercial Hotel Stake (400 m), Our Damiro, raced in the same interests as Hotfoot Swizzle, led all the way for a 3½ length win over Harry Chana in 23.30 seconds.
The win was Our Damiro’s third from 41 starts and her first since February when she defeated kennelmate Zipping Shakira at Tara Raceway.
The brindle bitch is a daughter of Miss Splendamiro, Phillips describing her as a once in a lifetime bitch who raced on 66 occasions for 33 wins, 17 minor placings and prize money of more than $227,000.
Newman’s third win of the day was in the Metal Worx Stake (400 m) with Gypsy Chick who is raced by Mount Gambier-based Shane Flink, winner of this year’s Connie Miller club award.
Chasing her first win at Tara Raceway since the end of July, Gypsy Chick led all the way from box six and held on to defeat Sit And Wait by 1¼ lengths in 23.23 seconds much to the delight of his exuberant owner.
Gypsy Chick, a daughter of Bernardo and Spirited Bingle, was purchased as a three-month-old pup by Flink from Portland breeder Robert Halliday who also reared the black bitch.
So, with Newman then winning the last race with Purified and bringing up four winners and Abbott’s Top Cadillac looking to be in great shape, attention now turns to the SA Country Cup heat/s (512 m) which will be run on Sunday, September 29.
A maximum of two $4000 heats will be run with the two winners representing Mount Gambier in the $8500 final at Angle Park on Adelaide Cup night on Friday, October 11. If only one heat is run, first and second placegetters will make the trip to Angle Park.