Winning Trainer Has Come Long Way In a Short Time

As far as greyhound racing is concerned, it’s been only a couple of years since Jason Newman of Moorak became hands-on.

His first greyhound was Black Moscato who had been purchased as a sapling. Then came his first winner as trainer with Like A Slug, raced in partnership at the time with John and Kerry Hawker.

And while this was going on, Newman was also putting in the hard yards out at Allendale East where he was assisting David Peckham at his Bourne Kennels operation.

“I have to say, I learnt a lot from one of SA’s most successful trainers in my time spent out at Bourne Kennels,” Newman said.

Fast forward two years and on Sunday the pair dominated the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club’s major meeting of the year which was highlighted by the running of the Group 3 Carlin & Gazzard MG Mount Gambier Cup (512 metres).

Newman trained Departure Gate, winner of the Mount Gambier cup, along with Velocity Cleo and Ajmer. Topping off the day was the win of Awesome Alpaca, trained by his partner Melissa Freitag.

Photo: Jason Newman proud as punch on the podium with his champion Departure Gate
Credit: Kurt Donsberg Photography

Peckham took his number of wins to 10 at Tara Raceway in the space of a week when Earn The Blur, Denzell Bale, Aston Marlon and Midnight Daisy were successful on Sunday.

The 40-year-old Newman attributes his rapid rise – he’s currently sitting in third spot on the Mount Gambier leading trainers’ award – to opportunities initially coming his way via Adelaide participants Damien Bates and Tim Aloisi.

“Damien had been training Departure Gate for his mother-in-law Sharyn McSorley prior to temporarily relocating interstate with his wife. And right or wrong, he wanted me to take over the training of the dog,” Newman said.

“Through this association came further involvement with leading Adelaide trainer Troy Murray and Queensland owner Steve Williams.

“I think the fact that I was able to keep greyhounds such as Roxy Patron and Hot Diamond winning multiple races last year gave me added confidence in myself.

“In other words, I am now looking to make a good dog better and keep it going for longer in order that owners can continue to place their trust in me.”

Newman is also involved in club matters and as a member of the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club committee was one of those instrumental in the MGGRC gaining Category 2 Sunday racing in July last year.

He is also the club’s representative on Greyhound Racing SA’s Industry Consultative Group.

Following last year’s cup, the MGGRC committee had looked at ways in which the club’s biggest meeting of the year could be improved – in particular the presentation of the finalists to the public.

This year, the eight finalists were individually introduced by Kevin “KD” Douglas – outstanding as always. Handlers wore a personalised GRSA shirt – theirs to remember the occasion by –embroidered with the greyhound’s name along with “2022 Carlin & Gazzard MG Mount Gambier Cup”.

Adding further to the handlers’ appearances were stylish black MG caps, supplied by Carlin & Gazzard MG sales manager Adrian Jones.

The club had also been looking to replace its remote race callers for its cup heats and final. Veteran caller Jim Jacques handled the heats in his own inimitable way. And young Lachlan Stace, a last minute call-up for the final, did an outstanding job.

A Record-Breaking Day

Emani Bale and Giant’s Flash created an early buzz at Sunday’s Mount Gambier Cup meeting when running consecutive track records in the Rocks Tavern Distance (732 m) and the Tankman 600.

Trained at Avalon by Daniel Gibbons for Brendan Wheeler, Emani Bale was in third spot early before taking the lead down the back straight and eventually running out a 1¾ length winner over Mick’s Kimmy in 43.10 seconds.

Photo: Emani Bale streaks over the line, setting a new 43.10s record for the 732m.
Credit: Kurt Donsberg Photography

The winner’s time broke Nellie Noodles’ longstanding record of 43.45 seconds which had been established at the 2011 Mount Gambier Cup day meeting on March 27.

By Jarvis Bale, Emani Bale is out of Sandown Park and The Meadows distance winner Alera Bale, a winner of 14 races and $76,000 in stakemoney.

For the 33-year-old Gibbons it’s been an interesting journey. He wrestled professionally and spent 18 months living in Thailand with his wife Rebecca and daughter before two years ago following a family tradition that has seen him take on the training of greyhounds.

The Peter Crawley trained Mick’s Kimmy, who ran a big race after being a clear last early, also broke the previous record when clocking 43.22 seconds.

Mick’s Kimmy is a daughter of Mick’s Angel, winner of the 2018 distance race at the Mount Gambier Cup meeting in a time of 43.94 seconds.

Giant’s Flash, the 512 metre Tara Raceway track record holder after a run of 29.19 seconds back on January 20, now also holds the 600 metre record for Garry Comans and the Giant Crows and Compton trainer Tracie Price.

The son of Banjo Boy and Navada Flame, after missing out on a spot in the cup final when running second in his heat, led all the way to defeat Galactic Anubis by 5¾ lengths in 34.69 seconds.

The previous record stood to the credit of Pirate’s Curse who recorded a time of 34.79 seconds in April 2019.