First Wednesday Meet at Gawler
The first meeting to be run at Gawler greyhounds on a Wednesday as a part of the new schedule, was also the first affected by the new COVID-19 lockdown. As a result, no members of the public could attend, with only trainers and handlers with dogs engaged, able to be on course and enjoy the racing.
Racing got underway with a Maiden over 400m, which saw the outside pair away quickly, with Majestic Diva from box 7 leading Tyson Herrera (8) by three lengths, with a similar gap to Rev Up Rocco (2). As the race progressed, Tyson Herrera was able to slowly make up ground, before reeling in the leader in the last 20 metres, to win by less than a length. Tyson Herrera is trained at Two Wells by Kim Johnstone and recently joined her kennels after 14 starts in NSW. Not able to win there, the dog hasn’t taken long to strike form with Kim, with this being only the second start in her care. Second was Majestic Diva for Ashlee Griffiths of Lewiston and third was Rev Up Rocco for Tony Hinrichsen of Monarto South.
Two trainers went home with a double on the day. Bec Romyn , a recently arrived trainer from Victoria, scored the first leg of her double in the next race, when her runner Dexter You Devil came from near last, to make full use of the rails to win narrowly over Danger Dan, in a roughly run affair. Her second winner arrived in the 400m Grade 5, with her runner Rockin’ Richard heading early leader Our Katie Rose, going on to defeat that dog by four lengths.
The other double was provided by Nicole Price, who is in the process of relocating from Renmark to Lewiston. Nicky’s first win came in a 400m Grade 6 race, with Black Hulk leading all the way from box 4, to defeat Hot Rocks by a length, in a handy time of 22.97 secs.
Completing Nicky’s double was Sweet Rose in the Grade 4/5 event over 531m, where she was able to get to the front as they left the straight the first time. Maintaining a two length lead during the race, Sweet Rose won in the time of 30.91 secs, from All Out Crazy. Sweet Rose has been a consistent performer, winning ten races and nine places from 30 starts.
Although the racing has moved to Wednesday afternoon and Sunday nights, with COVID-19 restrictions now in place, the general public is not able to attend the track for about the next fortnight. Please watch for announcements for when everyone can attend again.
Pic: Kim Johnstone with a very alert looking Tyson Herrera
(Credit: Kurt Donsburg)