The Finn family – Kevin, Lorraine and daughter Marita Byron – were over from Warrnambool for last Sunday’s Tara Raceway meeting with Destini Montana.
And Lorraine Finn also brought with her a giant get well card, already signed by Warrnambool participants and, once signed by their local counterparts, to be forwarded to Phil Lenehan, a popular supporter of both tracks.
With Lenehan in hospital in Melbourne after recently being involved in a car accident, Mrs Finn’s get well card was a lovely gesture from a lovely lady.
Locally owned and trained Galactic Panther advanced to the semi-finals of the Group 3 Howard Ashton Classic (515 metres) when running third in the first heat at Angle Park on Wednesday afternoon.
Raced by Moorak owner Robert Chuck and trained at Worrolong by Steve Bartholomew, the son of Milldean Panther and Galactic Rumball was beaten 6½ lengths by boom youngster Victa Louise who clocked the quickest of the four heats when running 29.72 seconds.
Victa Louise, a $1.15 favourite, was the only heat winner to break the 30 second barrier although $18 second placegetter Springvale Choix surprised when running her to 1½ lengths and clocking 29.82 seconds.
And after Fabwik ran 30.01 seconds to win the final heat, it was Galactic Panther who was the fourth fastest of the qualifiers with a time of 30.18 seconds.
Breemelia Swift, who ran unplaced behind Galactic Panther earlier this year in the Peter Rocket Summer Classic final at Tara Raceway, caused a boilover when winning heat three at $31 in 30.24 seconds.
Springvale Alysa, the other locally owned and trained classic contender, disappointed for Kongorong trainer John Little when failing to qualify in the second heat, won by Tal Lee in 30.49 seconds.
Semi-finals of the SA-bred paid up series will be run at Angle Park on Thursday, May 24 with the $37,500 final on Thursday, May 31, coinciding with heats of the McQueen feature.
For Spring Ripper and Kolora Posie, impressive winners of the Trackside Meats Feature (512 metres) heats for grade five greyhounds, it was a case of both breaking a long run of outs at Tara Raceway last Sunday afternoon.
Spring Ripper, an impressive Trackside Meats Feature Grade 5 heat winner pictured with trainer Brian Weis at Tara Raceway last Sunday.
Even though Spring Ripper, a son of Spring Gun and Chilly Babe, hadn’t won since the end of September at The Meadows, the brindle dog looked well placed from box one and wasn’t missed by punters when jumping at $2.50.
And he always looked to have Cryer’s Jed’s measure as he chased that greyhound down the back before railing through approaching Captain’s Corner and powering away in the home straight for an emphatic 6½ length win over Goldie’s Run and the early leader in a best of day 30.03 seconds.
Owned at Wagga by Matt Morris, Spring Ripper is trained at Portland by Brian Weis, the connections having combined earlier this year to win the Group Listed Mount Gambier Cup with Xtreme Caution.
Weis has now won five races with Spring Ripper, with his 512 metre maiden win actually coming close to 12 months ago when he defeated Kolora Posie by a length at Tara Raceway in 30.31 seconds.
Connie Miller’s good year continued when Kolora Posie won the second heat of the Trackside Meats Feature Grade 5.
By Bekim Bale out of Swift Blaze, Kolora Posie, who last won in October, was formerly raced by her Mortlake breeder Terry Payne who recently signed her over to Connie Miller of the Bourne Kennels at Allendale East.
Having her fourth run back after a lengthy break necessitated through seasonal issues and a kennel mishap, Kolora Posie led all the way from box three to defeat the Weis-trained Big Rough by 5¼ lengths in a personal best time of 30.05 seconds.
The win continued Miller’s good run this year, Chilly Kiss, a litter sister to Spring Ripper, having won four races including The Tankman 600 at the cup carnival.
The unraced Swift Blaze has proven to be a handy producer for Payne, with Kolora Posie’s litter brother Barry Bomber having won 13 races and more than $41,000 in prizemoney, his past three wins being at The Meadows over 600 metres.
And an earlier mating with Bekim Bale produced the grand campaigner Old Jock who won the 2016 Mount Gambier Greyhound of the Year award.
Also through to Sunday’s final, which should be an interesting race, are Turbo Road, Blazin’ Vicky and Big Lebowski.
Horsham greyhound Vectis Seyarda, a quick 35.18 seconds 600 metre winner at Tara Raceway last month when a $31 chance, turned in another top performance over the middle-distance at last Sunday’s meeting.
In career-best form, but once again friendless at $15, the four-year-old daughter of Deville and Maureen Return’s chased well backed favourite Solitary Lad for much of the journey, taking up the running off the back before hitting the line strongly for a 5¼ length win over Cryer’s Bob with a further 1¼ lengths back to Solitary Lad, stepping up in distance for the first time.
The time for the Produce Store Mixed Stake was 34.90 seconds and that’s quick – only a length outside McIvor Verna’s track record of 34.84 seconds – although it should be pointed out that the race had been hand-timed.
Valerie Brodhurst with Cheyenne Black, the second leg of a winning double at Tara Raceway last Sunday.
Vectis Seyarda is owned by Judy O’Neill and Conrad Winfield and trained by the former who is still hoping to be able to find a 732 metre race at Tara Raceway for the black bitch.
In the meantime, Vectis Seyarda will return on Sunday to Tara Raceway where she will meet a smart 600 metre field, which includes former record holder Paraphernalia, in the Produce Store Open.
Incidentally, the Peter Franklin trained McIvor Verna, after a three-month break, returned to racing last Sunday at Sandown Park where she worked home well in the concluding stages of a 595 metre grade five event to be beaten by 2¾ lengths.
Another four-year-old that continues to perform well is Cheyenne Black, raced by Tara Raceway regulars David and Valerie Brodhurst of Serviceton.
Lining up from box one in last Sunday’s Greg Martlew Autos Stake (400 m), Cheyenne Black was always on the pace, taking over the running off the back and going on to an emphatic 5¼ length win over Brinza in 23.30 seconds.
The win was the second leg of a double for the Brodhursts, Swoosie successful earlier in the day in the Winmore Greyhound Kennels Stake (400 m). Swoosie was also part of a double for the couple last month when Two Jobs also won on the same day.
Cheyenne Black, a daughter of Cosmic Chief and Eva’s Flame who went around on 107 occasions, is fast approaching 100 race starts herself, having now won 15 races since relocating to Serviceton shortly after winning the 2015 GRSA/GOTBA Coursing Oaks at Virginia.
And Oh No Beta turned in a top performance in the South Eastern Hotel Open Stake (400 m) when missing the start hopelessly from box eight before quickly rounding up the field and running out a 1¼ length winner in 23.49 seconds.
The son of Lochinvar Marlow x Sometimes Speedy has now won 14 races at the track and distance for Portland trainer Nicole Stanley with last Sunday’s win taking him one point clear of Chilly Kiss in the Mount Gambier Greyhound of the Year.
Greyhound racing, which resumed at Tara Raceway on Sunday afternoon after a three-week upgrade primarily aimed at improving the consistency of the camber around the track, has received a resounding thumbs up.
Speaking after the 10-race meeting, Greyhound Racing SA Strategic Projects Manager, Scott Wuchatsch, said he had been delighted by the manner in which the predominantly interference-free racing had come up on television.
Edenhope trainer Captain Abbott pictured at “Captain’s Corner”.
Steward in charge, Josh Evans, also was full of praise for the upgrade while track work supervisor Tim Manterfield said participants had been more than happy with the way the track played out.
“The response today from participants was very positive,” said a relieved Manterfield, who has effectively managed the works on-site from start to finish and put in numerous extra hours to ensure the project was completed in such a small timeframe.
One trainer, in particular, who is pleased that the home turn camber has been improved, is long-time participant Captain Abbott of Edenhope.
“I’ve been racing here for something like 14 years,” he said. “And I’d been suggesting for most of that time that the home turn needed more camber. It now looks good.”
In fact, in recognition of Abbott’s long-time crusade, Tara Raceway’s home turn is now known as “Captain’s Corner” and carries the appropriate signage.
Nimble Foot was the second of a double for Robert Halliday at Tara Raceway on Sunday.
Portland trainer Robert Halliday landed a double with Spirited Bingle and Nimble Foot, both out of Kokoda Spirit, winner of the 2013 SA Oaks at Angle Park.
By Collision, Spirited Bingle, who was an impressive 400 metre winner at Tara Raceway on April 25 in best of day time, went right on with the job when quickly finding the front and then holding off Mount Gambier Cup finalist Verev to win by three-quarters of a length in 23.27 seconds, another best of day time.
Nimble Foot, a son of Barcia Bale, was well supported on debut in the Klaassens Contractors Stake (512 m), settling in third spot down the back straight before finding the rails and racing right away from Bungaloo Thor and Azumi Ryder to win by 5¼ lengths in 30.06 seconds.
Sunday’s double continued a good year for Halliday who has now trained 16 winners at Tara Raceway and currently is in third spot behind Tracie Price and Nicole Stanley on the Leading Trainers’ list.
