Monday, February 17, 2020

There had been bags of five winners in the past for Allendale East greyhound trainer David Peckham but he went one better at Tara Raceway yesterday when Bourne Maximum, Call Me Billy, Fabs You Go, Squishy Pea, Dyna Carnie and Bourne Blackjack were successful.

SIX WINNERS: From left, Jason Newman (Call Me Billy, Squishy Pea), Zayden (Dyna Carnie), Christine Yourgules (Fabs You Go) and David Peckham (Bourne Blackjack, Bourne Maximum).

And it was Call Me Billy who was the quickest of the three Summer Classic heats (512 metres), leading all the way to defeat Elle Limes by 3¾ lengths in 30.07 seconds while the winner’s litter sister, the Peckham-trained Sweet On Me, is also through to this Sunday’s final after running second to the Tracie Price trained Rocketline in 30.14 seconds.

Peckham’s six winners on the 12-race card equalled the record effort of Price, who on Sunday, September 20, 2015 was successful with Fear The Rascal, Pam’s Boy, Who’s Doing What, Roma’s Moment, Whatta Moment and Mellow And Black.

Meanwhile, the Kevin Mugavin owned and trained Spring Value continued on his Mount Gambier Cup campaign trail with a brilliant win in the Williams Crane Hire Open Stake (512 m), leading all the way for a 10½ length win in a best of day 29.44 seconds.

Saturday, February 15, 2020

As Lewiston trainer Kevin Bewley tells it, Robert Brown’s five-member BG Punters Syndicate had been having a pretty lean run with their harness racing horses so they decided to diversify and give the greyhounds a go.

Kevin Bewley with Night Glow, the first winner for the BG Punters Syndicate.

“When they approached me they still had a few bob to spend but I suggested we could probably get something a lot cheaper than what they were talking and still have a bit of fun,” Bewley said.

“In the end I was able to pick up a lightly-raced little bitch called Night Glow, a nicely-bred daughter of Barcia Bale and Full Noise Turbo, that had won a couple of races over 390 metres at Ballarat.”

Night Glow actually had her first start for the syndicate at Tara Raceway back in early December when she ran third behind Turn To Fab before winning at Angle Park over 388 metres a couple of weeks later.

The black bitch was back at Tara Raceway on Thursday, and obviously better for having had a look at the track when leading all the way from box one over 400 metres, defeating Fried White Bait by three lengths in a best of day 23.05 seconds.

Syndicate members now have two dogs with Bewley, last month adding to their team after the purchase of Lumen Nation, a winner of three races on Victorian tracks, and racing at Murray Bridge tomorrow night.

Saturday, February 15, 2020

It certainly was a proud Ben Boers who led back Burst Of Yap after her first-up win in the Williams Crane Hire Maiden Stake (400 metres) at Tara Raceway’s time-graded meeting on Thursday.

She’s another one of the Nitro Burst x Lots Of Yap litter to win at Tara Raceway, Boers breeding the litter over at Portland, retaining two dogs and a bitch and later entrusting their rearing to fellow Portland greyhound man Andy Graham.

Trinity, Ben and Kees Boers pictured with Burst Of Yap after her win at Tara Raceway on Thursday.

By the time Boers lined up in Thursday’s race two with his black bitch, Graham, who ended up with three of the litter himself in return for the rearing, had won with all three of his youngsters.

According to her breeder, Burst Of Yap had broken-in quite well but had gone into last week’s race with very little race experience – in fact it had been her first time in a full field.

“I’d been after a G-SIX (six-dog field) with her and after she drew box one I was hoping for a forward showing,” Boers said. “And when she went straight to the front I was confident they wouldn’t run her down because she had been trialling in reasonable time.

“It’s been five years coming and I reckon from an excitement point of view I’d put today’s win by Burst Of Yap on a par with Lots Of Yap’s Mount Gambier Cup win. I’m absolutely delighted with her effort.”

This is the 2015 cup winner’s first litter and while breeding is anything but a cheap exercise, Boers hasn’t written off another litter with the well-bred daughter of Premier Fantasy x Have A Yap.

“She has been in season again since whelping but I opted to let her go,” Boers said. “I’m not sure whether I’ll breed again with her but if I do I’ll be using a Glen Gallon straw that she won as part of the Mount Gambier Cup prize.”

Burst Of Yap is raced by the Boers-managed Three Gen Syndicate, two of the next generation in Trinity, 14, and Kees, 17, on track to witness the win – and now-licensed attendant Trinity catching her first winner.

See Nitro winning at Tara Raceway last Thursday.

It was in the race prior, the Winningformula.net.au Maiden Stake (400 m), that Graham, after having previously won twice with Bay Me and Rose Bay, was successful with his other member of the litter in See Nitro.

See Nitro had previously raced on two occasions in January at Warrnambool, finishing down the line both times and Graham later conceding that the black bitch hadn’t really been ready for that track.

But she was ready for Tara Raceway last Thursday, See Nitro running right up to some good recent trial form when winning by 5¼ lengths in 23.42 seconds – the same time his sister ran in the following race.

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

It was at Tara Raceway on Friday, February 13, 2015 when the inaugural Summer Classic (512 metres), for dogs and bitches whelped on or after January 1, 2013, was won by the Tom Cryer trained Cryer’s Ricky.

As luck would have it, Cryer’s Ricky gained a start as a reserve in the final and led all the way from box four to defeat Future Past and Andy Jay in 29.96 seconds.

Running fourth was Lots Of Yap, who a month later figured in another feature final, this time the luck going her way when she won the 35th Mount Gambier Cup (512 m), after gaining a start from box one as a reserve for Ben Boers.

Summer Classic contender Sweet On Me runs a quick 29.62 seconds for the 512 metres journey at Tara Raceway last Sunday.

Subsequent Summer Classic winners have been Menzel Boys (Lisa Rasmussen), Hutch (Robert Halliday), Galactic Panther (Steve Bartholomew) and Banjo Bad Boy (Dean Fennell), this year’s batch of 2018-whelped youngsters arguably making up the best-ever line-up.

And with Rocketline, Sweet On Me and Burst The Seam clashing in the first of the three classic heats at Tara Raceway on Sunday, the stage is set for a terrific afternoon of greyhound racing.

Compton trainer Tracie Price and local owners Michael Robinson and Willie Vossen will be chasing their second feature win this year with Rocketline, the May 2018 whelping winning the Sims Family Memorial (512 m) last month.

By Peter Rocket out of Headline, Rocketline then came out a fortnight ago and posted an emphatic 2¾ lengths win over Fabs You Go in a Maiden/One Win (512 m) in a personal best time of 29.76 seconds.

Sweet On Me, a recent purchase by Ross Schurgott’s currently on-fire Nineofus Syndicate – three winners at Tara Raceway last Sunday and another one at Angle Park the following night – turned in a terrific classic trial in the Bartholomew Pick 6 Stake (512 m).

Having her fourth start over the journey, the daughter of Barcia Bale x Call Me Gee maintained her unbeaten 512 metre record at Tara Raceway for Allendale East trainer David Peckham when scoring an eight length win over Banjo Lass in a quick 29.62 seconds.

Burst The Seam, trained at Portland by Nicole Stanley for Glen Burns, hasn’t raced at Tara Raceway but the black dog boasts an impressive record of seven wins and two seconds from 19 starts and has quick winning times at Warrnambool, Shepparton and Geelong.

By Barcia Bale, Burst The Seam is out of Bit Berger, a winner of two races at Tara Raceway in 2014 before relocating to Victoria where she ended her career with 21 wins and $43,000 in stakemoney.

Call Me Billy, a litter brother of Sweet On Me and raced in similar interests, looks well placed in the second heat after a 29.67 seconds 512 metres win over Oscar The Scout at Tara Raceway a month ago.

Andy Graham with Bay Me who has drawn box six in the third heat of Sunday’s Summer Classic.

Ashby Mayhem, a nicely-bred giveaway greyhound by Barcia Bale out of Glass Roof, clocked 29.79 seconds for Brendan Bunworth when running a 5¼ length third on February 2 behind Dyna Carnie – one greyhound the Penshurst owner-trainer certainly won’t be sorry to dodge.

And Vossy, who ran 29.99 seconds when leading all the way to defeat Local Brew on the same day, will also find the second heat somewhat more to her liking after encountering Dyna Carnie in near record-breaking form last Sunday.

A daughter of Dyna Double One and Miss Freelove, the April 2018 fawn bitch has now won five races from nine starts and is part of a strong classic team for Price, Robinson and Vossen.

In fact, the trio also holds a strong hand in the third heat with Rocketline’s sister Tandiki, whose best time at the track is a quick 29.66 seconds and who has been far from disgraced at her past two starts when running second to Dyna Carnie.

Robinson also has Perseverance, trained at Glencoe by Dean Fennell, engaged in heat three. Slow early but strong late, the sister to Vossy is a winner of five races and will appreciate the drop back from Open class to racing against her own age.

Adding further interest to the final heat is Portland owner-trainer Andy Graham’s Bay Me, an impressive 29.81 seconds 512 metre winner at last Sunday’s meeting. She is by Nitro Burst out of Lots Of Yap who won a 2015 Summer Classic heat.

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Magnet Force’s win in last Sunday’s Swallow Drive Meats Stake, her second at Tara Raceway and third overall for Murtoa owner-trainer Josh McDonald, once again resulted in 25 per cent of the prizemoney being donated to the Wimmera Southern Mallee Rural Outreach program.

Josh McDonald and his son Logan, 9, pictured with Magnet Force after her win at Tara Raceway last Sunday.

The Rural Outreach program is a consortium of 11 agencies with the lead agency through the Edenhope Memorial and District Hospital, the community-based program helping people in psychological and situational distress.

Purchased as a pup by McDonald, who also reared and then broke-in Magnet Force, the black bitch was named by him in memory of Brad “Magnet” Hall, a mate who died 12 months ago at the age of 42.

By Peter Rocket, who has a couple of handy types in Tandiki and Rocketline going around Tara Raceway at the moment, Magnet Force is out of nine-race winner Maisy Mac, a litter sister to Zambora Brockie (31 wins and more than $540,000 in stakemoney).

And on the back of a luckless fifth behind Akuma Fireball the previous week, Magnet Force was always handy from box eight in last Sunday’s 400 metre sprint, finishing strongly in the home straight to defeat Our Menace and the early leader Serene Rose in 23.34 seconds.

This was another special win for the 36-year-old McDonald, who has been involved in the sport for only two years and who immediately after the race warmly embraced his nine-year-old son Logan.

Watching the race was long-time Dennington trainer Pat Bouchier who a couple of races later had Bisenti engaged in the Klaassens Contractors Mixed Stake (600 m).

“We’re crying out for younger people to be involved in greyhound racing and Josh is a credit to the sport,” he said. “I just loved the way he hugged his son after the win.”

Bisenti made a successful return to Tara Raceway after a three month injury break, leading all the way for a 6¼ length win over Miss One Love in a more than handy 35.21 seconds.

Bisenti scores a good win over 600 metres for Pat and Patricia Bouchier of Dennington.

Bred by Bouchier’s wife, Patricia, Bisenti is by Dyna Double One out of Bookie, a litter sister to Beks, a former smart stayer for the Bouchiers back in 2014-2015 when winning 10 races and $100,000 in stakemoney.

Bisenti traces back to Heathmere breeder Garry Marshman’s Flaming Doll line, that bitch when mated with Knocka Norris producing Star Doll who ran a 23.05 seconds track record over 400 metres at Tara Raceway on April 19, 2013.

And although Crazy Old Duck has no connection with Flaming Doll, Marshman was also successful at last Sunday’s meeting with the nicely-bred white and blue bitch who led all the way to defeat Akuma Fireball by 5¾ lengths in 23.22 seconds in the Gambier Vets Stake (400 m).

Purchased by Marshman for $500 out of her first win, Crazy Old Duck is by Fernando Bale out of Marcus Glory, a litter sister to Marcus Joe, a winner of 20 races and more than $280,000 in stakemoney.

Garry Marshman’s Crazy Old Duck was an all the way winner over 400 metres.

Meanwhile, owners and trainers are reminded that heats of the 2020 Bourne Kennels Mount Gambier Cup (512 m) and the Produce Store Maiden (512 m) will be run at Tara Raceway on Sunday, March 29.

The Group Listed $15,000-to-the-winner cup final will be the highlight of the following Sunday’s meeting (April 5), the Committee Consolation (512 m), the Produce Store Maiden final (512 m), the Tankman 600 Open (600 m) and the Formula 400 Open (400 m) adding to what should be a terrific day of racing.

Sunday, February 9, 2020

Dyna Carnie clocks 29.33 seconds at Tara Raceway this afternoon when winning the Bourne Kennels Grade 5 Series final (512 m).

Tara Raceway 400 metre record holder Dyna Carnie went close to another record at today’s meeting when scoring a nine length win over Tandiki in the Bourne Kennels Grade 5 Series final (512 m).

Trained at Allendale East by David Peckham, the son of Kelsos Fusileer x Xylia Allen clocked the second-fastest 512 metre time ever run at the track, with his time of 29.33 seconds only three-quarters of a length outside the Tracie Price trained Rockoon’s 29.28 seconds recorded on July 1, 2018.

Raced by Adelaide owners Tim Aloisi and Matt Lehman, Dyna Carnie was the third of four straight winners for Peckham, Our Man Zed and Sweet On Me kicking off another big day which was wrapped up by Silent Jacko’s surprise win over Spring Value in the Trackside Meats Open Stake (512 m).

Saturday, February 8, 2020

Ray Brittain, of Canine Transport Services, a dog transport business currently servicing Victoria, has contacted the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club advising that he is looking to expand interstate.

He said he was keen to begin with a Melbourne-Mount Gambier-Adelaide return run which would also have the capacity to ship semen to and from all veterinary clinics.

His experience is extensive, with 30 years in the transport industry and 28 years’ involvement in all facets of greyhound racing.

Brittain can be contacted on 0414 443 951.

Saturday, February 8, 2020

It’s now been something like eight years since Robert Colpoys last raced greyhounds at Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway – and as he recalls without much success.

But it was a different story at last Thursday’s time-graded meeting when Colpoys, based in the Gippsland township of Bass, landed a winning treble with Hook Along Mint, Pink Tiara and Hook Along Book.

Robert Colpoys’ treble at Tara Raceway last Thursday. From left: Pink Tiara (Steve Colpoys, Coleraine), Hook Along Book (Robert Colpoys, Bass) and Hook Along Mint (Bruce Tainsh, Tarpeena).

Success came early in the day when Hook Along Mint, chasing his first win at start number 14, led all the way in the Gambier Vets Maiden Stake (400 metres) to defeat his kennelmate Miss Monster by 2½ lengths in a handy 23.27 seconds.

Kennelled at Bass since breaking-in, Hook Along Mint, a son of Dyna Villa x Purdi, is raced by his breeder, Brad Hooke of Huntly.

Purdi is a daughter of Miss Elly Mint who won 44 races and recorded 12 minor placings from 66 starts for prizemoney just short of $200,000. At one stage during 2008-2009 Miss Elly Mint won 16 races in succession at Wentworth Park, The Gardens and Gosford.

Pink Tiara would have boosted the spirits of owner Brendan De Rozario – currently recovering from a major operation – when leading all the way in the Williams Crane Hire Stake (400 m) for a 7¼ length win over Yeppy Allen in a best of day 23.23 seconds.

By Fabregas out of Wentworth Park winner Houso Delight, Pink Tiara has now won six races – two this year – since being taken over last June by Colpoys, who also caught up with his brother, fellow trainer Steve of Coleraine, on Thursday.

And Hook Along Book, whose last win had been in a maiden at Healesville back in October, brought up the visiting trainer’s treble in emphatic fashion when leading all the way in the Greyhound-Data.com Stake (512 m) to defeat Rooster by 6½ lengths in 30.21 seconds.

Also bred and raced by Hooke, Hook Along Book, another one with Colpoys since being broken in, is a daughter of Banjo Boy and Wentworth Park, Dapto, Richmond and Gosford winner Ronray Flyer.

Last Thursday’s treble was his second, although recollections of that first one are somewhat hazy for the trainer with a 52-year involvement in the sport.

“Somewhere home I have a newspaper cutting dating back 30 years which relates to the day at Healesville where I was the first to train a treble at the straight track,” he said.

Colpoys, who currently has six dogs in work, rates the best dog he has trained as being Remo Shark, a winner of 16 races including Sandown Park and The Meadows and Remo Rubik (22, $116,000) as the best he’s bred.

Pull Shot (rails) dead-heats for first with Fried White Bait (No. 4) while Parry Allen is a nose away in third spot in last Thursday’s Klaassens Contractors Stake.

Meanwhile, tightest go all day last Thursday was in the Klaassens Contractors Stake (400 m) when Pull Shot and Fried White Bait dead-heated for first while Parry Allen was only a nose away in third spot in a time of 23.62 seconds.

As things played out it appeared as though the Kevin Ward owned and trained odds-on favourite Pull Shot would lead all the way from box one and defeat the Wade Green pair of Parry Allen and Fried White Bait.

But the race changed complexion not far from home when Pull Shot’s back legs inexplicably dipped, the black bitch probably doing well to get going again and salvage a dead-heat with Fried White Bait who came from a fair way back.

Both Ward, of Mount Moriac, and Rockbank-based Green finished the day with a win and a dead-heat each while Portland trainer Andy Graham landed an outright double when his Nitro Burst x Lots Of Yap litter sisters Bay Me and Rose Bay were successful over 400 metres.