Training honours at last Thursday’s Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club time-graded meeting at Tara Raceway went the way of Berringa trainer Michael Niele who landed a litter treble.

But the winners – Shirl The Whirl, Compute and Speechless – all had to work hard in the run to the line after the winning margins all required a photo finish prior to the results being posted.

By Feral Franky, the littermates are out of Darryl’s Dream, a daughter of Zambora Brockie and Miami Fernando, who raced on only four occasions at Casino for four minor placings.

However, litter brother Amron Boy won 22 races and $674,000 in prize money while another litter brother in Amron Dan was successful on 17 occasions and collected $186,000.

Shirl The Whirl kicked off Niele’s winning day in the Cadillac Racing TG1-4W Stake (305 metres) after settling in second spot behind tearaway leader Mocambora Jack.

But the brindle bitch, whose 16 starts have all been over the 305 metre journey at Mount Gambier, finished powerfully in the run home to score by a head in 17.72 seconds.

Compute and Speechless both contested heats of a Fast Forward, a TG1-4W 400 metre series with the six fastest heat runners, irrespective of where placed, advancing to this week’s $1515 final.

Chasing his first win at the local track, Compute settled at the tail of the field in the first heat, the Greyhoundtips.com.au Stake, and was still at the rear turning for home.

But in a busy finish the brindle dog defeated Legacy To Burn by a head in 23.39 seconds. As it turned out, the other two runners, Come On Luba and He’s A Tycoon, also made their way into the final.

And in the second heat, Speechless also found herself well back early in the Sealeys Springworks Stake before finishing strongly for a nose win over Linda Lou in 23.33 seconds.

All three littermates are raced by Shirley Halliday of Portland.

The Fast Forward finalists in order of times are Speechless, Linda Lou, Compute, Legacy To Burn, Come On Luba, He’s A Tycoon. Reserves: Appellant, Mocambora Mitch.

Meanwhile, winning the Collins Court Butcher Stake (400 m), and also collecting a $50 meat voucher, was German Creek-based trainer Kevin Patzel who was successful with Ivory Pygmy.

By the Irish-bred Vulturi out of Lala Ivory, Ivory Pygmy has raced exclusively at Tara Raceway since Patzel took over her training in May. She has now won a further four races for Patzel and WA owner Scott Johnstone.

Drawn in box eight, she was always on the pace and railed up on Pure Gout in the home straight to score a half-length win over the favourite in 23.25 seconds.

And another greyhound with imported bloodlines in Bomb Rocky found winning form for the first time since December last year when she had been successful at Tara Raceway over 400 metres.

By Ballymac Bolger out of JD Bombshell, the black bitch is owned by Aaron Blake and trained at North Bendigo by his mother Mary.

Settling in fourth spot, Bomb Rocky, a $17 chance, railed through on the home turn before running out a half-length winner over Canya Feel It in a time of 30.41 seconds.

And OB Flat trainer Noel Perry was back among the winners with Rough Girl Mel who hit the headlines last month when she won at Tara Raceway as a $100 chance.

Only a $4.40 chance in last week’s Quickmix Concrete GroupTG5+W Stake (305 m), the Perry-bred and owned daughter of My Redeemer and Vossy led all the way from box seven.

On the line she had 2¼ lengths to spare over Saint Ella in 17.78 seconds. And finishing a half-length third was another Perry runner in Rough Boy Rocky.

 

NATIONAL TOTE TESTING TO COMMENCE

Tabcorp is set to begin testing its national tote after securing regulatory approval. This will put the long-anticipated One Pool project on course for a possible launch in early October.

And Mount Gambier’s Thursday greyhound meeting this week is among the likely fixtures to be the first to use the unified system.

In announcing the imminent launch of One Pool, which sees NSW TAB, UTAB and STAB combine into one “supercharged” pool, Tabcorp CEO Gillon McLachlan said he remained confident it would increase liquidity for punters and create greater price stability.

“We have a new brand and a campaign which will focus on what we see as the advantages. Clearly greater liquidity, the opportunity to have jackpot-style products and simplicity in the way it is presented.”