Thundering on after overcoming significant setback
The all-the-way win of Thunder On in last Sunday’s Greg Martlew Autos Masters Stake (305 metres) at Tara Raceway in the tidy time of 17.72 seconds was a real bonus for Callington owner Brian Sebastyan.
Photo: Thunder On defeats Rotate (No. 8) and Charley Davidson at Tara Raceway last Sunday.
Having his fourth run back after being off the scene for three months due to injury, the manner in which the black dog has returned to racing has surprised even his owner.
“Back in August he sustained a tendon injury and to be honest I didn’t really think that he would race again,” said Sebastyan, who boasts a long-time involvement in the sport.
“But I was really pleased with his return to racing after he ran a couple of seconds and a third placing at Murray Bridge and Angle Park before today’s terrific win.”
Thunder On, who is trained by Sebastyan’s sister, Wendy, has now won 28 races and $37,000 in stakemoney. And his owner still thanks his lucky stars that he just happened to be in the right place at the right time at a November Murray Bridge race meeting two years ago.
“At the time I think he’d raced about nine times and hadn’t won a race. So when his previous owner asked me if I wanted him as a giveaway – otherwise he was to be placed in the GAP program – I figured I didn’t have too much to lose.”
And there’s certainly not much wrong with Thunder On’s breeding. By Fabregas, he’s out of Springvale Bryne, a winner of 29 races and $121,000 in stakemoney, and a litter sister to Worm Burner.
Meanwhile, Mortlake trainer Peter Crawley and travelling companion Ken Creece, of Heywood, took full advantage of the border reopening when successful with Cryptic Signal and Mick’s Kimmy at last Sunday’s meeting.
Photo: Ken Creece with Cryptic Signal.
However, their joy was short-lived. Before nominations had closed for this week’s meetings the majority of Victorian trainers had once again been shut out due to border restrictions.
While not training greyhounds these days, the charismatic Creece, who certainly enjoys his day at Tara Raceway, had his share of success on Victorian tracks back in the 90s, in particular with Blitzem Bootsy and Iceni Brave.
Blitzem Bootsy, a son of Pop Gun x Leggy Waitress, was a winner of 25 races while his younger half-brother Iceni Brave (by Eaglehawk Star), was a 34-race winner.