For Dunolly-based Tara Malcolm, a regular at Tara Raceway Thursday time-graded meetings, it was a case of taking her involvement in greyhound racing to a new level last week with a dog called Puddin’ Cake.
Puddin’ Cake, a June 2022 daughter of Aston Dee Bee and Avatar Minty, had previously won two races from 35 starts at the local track when trained by Rick Boehm and Sandra Elmes. In fact, Tara Raceway is the only track she’s ever raced on.
Malcolm’s first involvement with greyhounds only came about early last year after she had called in to see if neighbours Boehm and Elmes had any jobs available.
“They were prepared to give me a go even though I had no knowledge of greyhounds. And I’m enjoying working with them on a part-time basis,” Malcolm said.
Puddin’ Cake’s last win had been back in February when successful over 305 metres. But by then Malcolm had been keen to become a trainer in her own right. And after obtaining her own licence in April she took over as owner-trainer of the red fawn bitch.
But after 15 starts over 305 metres at Tara Raceway for her new trainer that elusive first win still hadn’t eventuated.
“To be honest, I was starting to wonder whether there would ever be a first win for me with her. And last week certainly didn’t look that promising given that she was a $20 chance in the Ontrack Insider TG1-4W Stake (305 m),” Malcolm said.
But Puddin’ Cake was quickly away from box two and led all the way before holding on for a neck win in 17.97 seconds over Vapour Whirl who is trained at Langhorne Creek by Yvonne King.
And finally, an over the moon Tara Malcolm was on her winning way.
Then, in the following race, the Greyhoundtips.com.au TG1-4W Stake (305 m), Boehm and Elmes were successful with Little Button, an April 2024 daughter of Aston Rupee and Limit Switch.
Little Button and Dean Fennell’s Saint Kylie pretty well went stride for stride throughout with the former scoring a nose win in 17.96 seconds.
Langhorne Creek trainer Tony Hinrichsen was back at Tara Raceway chasing his first win at the local track since Lil Rex had been successful in a heat of the Trackside Pet Meats Autumn Classic (512 m) back in May.
Successful in a quick 29.35 seconds, that was his fifth win. A week later the son of Bernardo x Lily Pad ran second in the final to Big Diesel. But 12 more wins have since followed with Lil Rex now being set for the $50,000 SA Derby at Angle Park.
Hinrichsen had Hello Sweetheart engaged in last week’s Williams Crane Hire TG5+W Stake (400 m), the son of Aussie Infrared and Rumbling Away having previously won seven races in Queensland.
Rusty Wheels, looking to give Berringa trainer Michael Niele his second winner of the day after Fernando Lee had won earlier, flew the start from box four and certainly gave Hello Sweetheart something to chase.
And it wasn’t until the last stride that she grabbed the leader for a neck win in 23.15 seconds.
For Hinrichsen, it had been a phone call from leading Queensland trainer Tony Zammit that led to the fawn bitch finding her way to South Australia.
“She had won seven races up north but Tony was of the opinion that she might now be better suited down here, especially given that Hello Sweetheart is owned by four Adelaide tradies.”
Meanwhile, the Thursday afternoon time-graded meetings at Tara Raceway have received a boost following Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club sponsor Mick Lamond’s weekly Collins Court Butcher $50 meat voucher for a designated race.
Winner of last week’s voucher race was Myola Thalia, owned and trained at Purdeet by Annette Kampman whose last local winner had been Myola Nick back on Mount Gambier Cup day in April.
By Aussie Infrared out of Undercover Boss, Myola Thalia led all the way from box one for a 3¼ length win over Compton Bowie in 23.17 seconds.
Two heats of the Fast Forward 1-4 Wins (400 m) kicked off the meeting with the fastest six runners, irrespective of where placed, making up this week’s final.
Leading the qualifiers is the Kevin Patzel trained She’s A Tycoon, winner of the second heat in a time of 23.22 seconds. Other qualifiers are Appellant (M. Niele) 23.37, Adhana Roy (S. Baulch) 23.42, Linda Lou (D. Fennell) 23.52, Finniss Cheers (K. Goodwin) 23.53, Speechless (M. Niele) 23.62.
Reserves are Lektra Lee (J. Cameron) 23.65 and Mocambora Mitch (S. Blacksell) 23.82.
