A fitting win for Tara Tipster
A fitting win for Tara Tipster
Noel Perry, Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club president and a long-time member of the charity-driven Tara Tipsters team, scored a fitting win with Rough Boy Russ in last Sunday’s Four Reasons Why Tara Tipsters Cup (512 metres) at Tara Raceway.
Away well from box three for the locally-based owner-trainer, Rough Boy Russ virtually led all the way when defeating Lorraine Goodwin’s Kiwi To Burn by a length in 30.02 seconds.
Bred by Perry, the son of My Redeemer and 13-race winner Vossy has now won three races from 10 starts. And being a September 2022 whelping he should be well placed in the August running of the Winter Classic (512 m).
On track to receive a donation from the Tara Tipsters was Four Reasons Why (FRW) founder Trudi Shelton who said FRW strived hard to provide support, assistance and opportunities to locals in need. All donations stayed local, for locals.
Also receiving recognition at the presentation was Kev Patzel, winner of the past three Tara Tipsters competitions.
Meanwhile, it was also a good day for the locally-based Bartholomew family – Elysia landing her first double with Dug’s Sister and Unique Pearl and father Steve successful with Knight Vader.
Having her first race start, Dug’s Sister led all the way in the Federal Hotel Maiden Stake (305 m) when defeating Pate Biscuit by 3½ lengths in 17.70 seconds.
By Ando’s Mac out of six-race winner Galactic Destiny, Dug’s Sister is from a two-dog litter – her brother never racing after being born with a broken leg.
“He was named Dug and soon found his way into Greyhounds As Pets (GAP). And that’s how Dug’s Sister’s racing name came about,” said Bartholomew who still keeps in regular contact with the people who adopted Dug.
“Really, that was quite a remarkable win,” Bartholomew said when referring to the rising 3½- year-old 14-start son of Elite State and Dusty Pearl. “He’s been plagued with injuries to the extent that he came into today’s race off a 231 day break.”
Earlier in the day the Steve Bartholomew trained Knight Vader, who finished down the line on debut, resumed after a two-month break with an all the way win in 17.71 seconds over Intuitive in the Da’Leni Meats Maiden Stake (305 m).
Bartholomew also races Yoda Lady. Currently trained by Lauren Harris at Finniss, the daughter of US sire Blazin Wildfire and 2019 Mount Gambier Cup winner Galactic Athena has won her past four starts over 530 metres at Angle Park.
“She won her heat of the Group 3 Howard Ashton series and now we’re hopeful she can qualify for the $25,000-to-the-winner final,” Bartholomew said.
Bartholomew and close family friend Robert Chuck of Compton, had raced Galactic Athena together. And Chuck knows only too well what it’s like to win a Howard Ashton.
“In 2013, I mated a bitch called Magic Elite with Velocette – one of the resultant offspring turning out to be Galactic Viper who I placed with Victorian trainer Dave Geall,” Chuck said.
“Being SA-bred we decided to have a crack at the 2015 Howard Ashton with him. But things didn’t start out too well when Dave decided to give Galactic Viper a start at Angle Park leading into the Howard Ashton.
“The only trouble was he missed the turn-off to the track and was a late scratching. Anyway, he subsequently made his way through with a couple of placings before winning the final.
“Yoda Lady actually traces back to similar dam lines as that of Galactic Viper and hopefully the Bartholomew family can experience the same thrill I did all those years ago.”
Ray Mahony of Southern Cross was another trainer to land a double – with Sweet Secret and No Strings – litter sisters by SH Avatar out of Zipping Tatum.
Sweet Secret led all the way in the Metal Worx Stake, running out a 4½ length winner over Toot Toot in a quick 22.81 seconds.
Mahony’s the first to admit that he’s had his share of problems with Sweet Secret who was having only her second race start this year – both at Tara Raceway.
“She’s now three years old and has raced on only five occasions,” he said. “And while there’s no doubting her ability, she did pull up at Warrnambool late last year so I’ll probably be trying to get a few more races into her over here.”
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By George! He just keeps on getting better
Two Hands George took the 512 metre time honours at Mount Gambier’s time-graded meeting last Thursday with a personal best time of 29.64 seconds when defeating kennelmate Circus Craze.
Bred, owned and trained at Meningie by Thursday regular Tim Richards, Two Hands George matched strides early with his younger half-sister before eventually running out a 1¾ length winner.
By Aston Dee Bee out of Molly Be Nimble, Two Hands George’s win last week was his 32nd at start number 159. Throw in 64 minor placings as well and he’s still doing pretty well.
The win was his second this year following success at Tara Raceway on February 22 over 400 metres – the same day litter sister Butter Up Again – 139 starts for 18 wins and 38 minor placings – was also a 400 metre winner.
All told, the litter has done pretty well.
Justice For All won the 2021 Summer Classic (512 m) at Tara Raceway in race record time. And later that year Crush Your Enemy won the Newman McDonnell Memorial (512 m) before retiring after 110 starts which resulted in 25 wins and 35 minor placings.
And fellow Meningie owner-trainer Cam Butcher enjoyed plenty of success with Jack’s Well who raced on 78 occasions for 35 wins, 27 minor placings and more than $121,000 in prize money.
Parwan owner-trainer Julie Green’s double with Sudoku Shirley and Sweet Julie was her first at Tara Raceway since May 26, 2022 when Pat The Tiger and Mustang Molly had been successful.
Sudoku Shirley, who went into the Progreyhoundtips.com Maiden Stake (400 m) having been placed at her only four starts, looked set for an easy win when opening up a big break from box seven.
But in the run home they were coming from everywhere and on the line the early leader managed to hang on for a nose win over Yadillah Scout in 23.82 seconds.
Then, in the following race – the Greg Martlew Autos Maiden Stake (305 m) – Sweet Julie looked to have set herself a fair task after making a mess of the start from box one.
Into the home straight, though, and all hell broke loose with Sweet Julie finding herself in the right place at the right time when defeating kennelmate and litter sister Sisters New by 2¼ lengths in 18.44 seconds.
And while on the subject of doubles, Warrnambool Greyhound Racing Club president Rob Gore landed his first double in a 35-year involvement in the sport when Moonlight Annie and Handy Molone were successful.
Following a maiden win over 400 metres at Tara Raceway on ANZAC Day, Moonlight Annie, a daughter of Fernando Bale and 11-race winner My Girl Kizzy, was stepped up in distance by Gore last Thursday after some of the litter had been performing well over more ground.
In fact, the previous night at Ballarat, litter brother Pass Mark had won over 660 metres. And later on Thursday at Sandown Park another litter brother, Container, was successful over 595 metres at Sandown Park.
Lining up from box eight in the Produce Store TG1-4W Stake over 512 metres, Moonlight Annie was only fairly away and still had plenty of work to do down the back straight when a distant third.
But turning for home the black bitch took the rails opening before powering away in the home straight for a 3½ length win over Josie’s Jewel in a very handy 29.94 seconds.
After winning his maiden over 400 metres at Tara Raceway at the end of November, Handy Molone, a son of Shima Shine and Lulumon, brought up his second Mount Gambier win and the Gore double in the Exchange Printers TG1-4W Stake (400 m).
Quickly away from box six, Handy Molone led all the way, eventually defeating Silver Streak by 2¼ lengths in 23.34 seconds.
And the Icon Signs Fast Forward TG1-4W final (400 m) which is made up of the eight fastest greyhounds from two heats – irrespective of their finishing positions – resulted in further success for Quantum Master and owner-trainer Paul Cusack of Mount Cottrell.
The son of Spring Bridge and Spring Bella brought up his sixth win over 400 metres at the track this year when leading all the way from box five and defeating Rise As One by 6½ lengths in 23.22 seconds.