A promising start
When your greyhound wins a race by 10 lengths, it is an amazing feeling. But when it happens at their first start, it is even better.
At Gawler on Tuesday, in The Bunyip Maiden over 400m, Grouben out of box 3, led the field with early pace. Tauriel (4) and Park Glory (6) were also away well but that was the closest they were to get to Grouben. The white and black dog careered away, going on to win by exactly 10 lengths, in a particularly good time of 22.88 secs for a maiden winner.
Park Glory ran second for Todd Kelly of Two Wells, and Boss Happy Grot (1) made up some ground to finish third for John Hancock of Nuriootpa.
Grouben is trained locally at Gawler River by experienced mentor Angela Modra. “Stewie” as he is known around the kennel was also bred by Angela, from her champion Silver Saul and well performed bitch Atta lady. This is Atta Lady’s first litter and Stewie is the fifth member of that litter to win, with one more yet to race. Stewie was regarded as the slowest of the litter and therefore got under the guard of punters, starting at the good odds of $6 for the win. Being the slowest in the litter shows how good the rest are!
Angela has been in the greyhound industry for some 50 years, and particularly likes the breeding and rearing side, something at which she has shown to be adept. Grouben is owned in partnership with Jack Waleck, who Angela said keeps the kennel in great order. At the track, help is always needed and Angela relies on Doreen Farrell for assistance. It is great to have a dog like Stewie to make all the effort worthwhile.
Two Wells trainer Karen Bearpark was one of two trainers who provided a double on the day, with Perro Garaje scoring an all the way win, while Cowboy Jury put in a strong performance to win by a head. Ben Rawlings also landed a double with Shamus’s Entity who was challenged in the lead several times, and She’s Chaos who lead all the way.
Racing at Gawler continues every Tuesday afternoon and Sunday twilight.