Flora Colossus Wins 2022 Gawler Breeders Final
We saw a twelve race program on Sunday Night at Gawler. The program was headlined by the 2022 Gawler Breeders Final over the short course distance of 400 meters. We saw three heats the week before and the box draw made the final very interesting. Two of the three heat winners Air Pumbaa and Little Purpose had drawn alongside each other in boxes one and two. Naturally both of those greyhounds were contesting race favouritism because of their performances in the heats the week prior. The race did not go to script though and we saw a roughie win the final.
Christies Beach trainer Marty Doyle had two greyhounds in the final. One of them was Makani Girl who was drawn in box seven and was at a massive price of $34. The other greyhound engaged was Flora Colossus who had the more favourable draw at box three but was also at a long price of $17. Marty ended up proving the bookmakers wrong though after Flora Colossus led all of the way from box three to win the final. He ran a time of 22.79 which was a new personal best and it was a courageous win considering he was challenged strongly up the straight by race favourite Air Pumbaa. Flora Colossus would find something though and kick away strongly to win. Air Pumbaa would run second for Ray Murray and the kennel mate to the winner Makani Girl would run third for Marty Doyle who ended up having a massive overall performance in the final.
Photo: Flora Colossus narrowly wins, milliseconds ahead of Air Pumbaa
Credit: Kurt Donsberg Photography
We also saw greyhound racing in Gawler on Wednesday afternoon. Harness racing identity Cheryl Herman who now trains greyhounds at Globe Derby lined up her first runner as a trainer. Her greyhound Steve’s Regret led all of the way over 400 meters from box four. He ran a time of 23.03. Cheryl then lined him up again on Monday night at Angle Park and he would lead all of the way again to make it two wins from two starts for Cheryl. Cheryl has now had success as a trainer in both harness racing and greyhound racing which is a very rare achievement.
Photo: Marty Doyle (second from left) with his winner Flora Colossus and Makani Girl, who came third
Credit: Kurt Donsberg Photography