All things being equal, Capybara will line up this Sunday in a heat of the age-restricted $10,000 Cadillac Racing Spring Classic (512 metres) on the back of an impressive win last Sunday at Tara Raceway in the Icon Signs Stake over the same distance.
Having her first race start at the track, the August 2023 daughter of Fernando Bale and Nangar Gold quickly found the front from box seven before running out a 7¼ length winner over Lemon Pepper, also eligible for the classic given his November 2023 whelping date.
The run was also the first for the Compton-based Tracie Price who is training the brindle bitch for Murray Bridge owners Damien Smith and Terry Daly, along with Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club manager Tim Lewis.
The time of 29.77 seconds was smart and took her number of wins to six from 13 starts. Other success for the NSW-bred Capybara has come at Angle Park, Murray Bridge and Horsham.
The Spring Classic is an age-restricted heats and final series for all greyhounds whelped on or after July 1, 2023.
Meanwhile, Tessa Byrne, the Koroit-based bubbly teenage daughter of Peter and Narelle Byrne who race Saint Cassidy, was back at Tara Raceway last Sunday – this time to handle her parents’ greyhound.
The last time Saint Cassidy had raced at the local track had been more than 12 months ago. That was when the daughter of Fernando Bale and Mepunga Stellar, at what was her first start in a race, led all the way over 305 metres and defeated Cheques To Burn by 2¼ lengths in 17.80 seconds.
And 41 starts later she returned to Tara Raceway last Sunday, leading all the way in the Klaassens Contractors Stake (305 m) and defeating Crowie Unleashed by three-quarters of a length in 17.92 seconds.
Incidentally, Saint Cassidy was named after Mrs. Cassidy, Tessa’s favourite teacher while attending St. Patrick’s Primary School at Koroit.
Hamilton trainer Lorraine Goodwin enjoyed early success with second-starter Major Queen in the Williams Crane Hire Maiden Stake (400 m).
Bred by son Kyle, the daughter of Tommy Shelby and Princess Kiwi was purchased as a pup by Queensland owner Russell Wiseman who left the blue bitch with the Goodwins to be reared and then subsequently trained.
Three days prior at the time-graded meeting the kennel had also been successful with reserve runner Kia Keeping who had last won back in March at Dubbo over 516 metres.
By Fernando Bale out of Ruby Keeping, her most recent racing had been in WA over a bit more ground at Cannington and in stronger company – her recent form suggesting as much.
“Out of the blue I recently received a call from WA trainer Shayne Williams who was looking to move on Kia Keeping as a giveaway. All he wanted was $450 – the cost of a plane ticket to get the dog to the other side of the country,” Kyle Goodwin said.
“We reckoned she would probably find things a bit easier down here compared to taking on higher grade races at Cannington so we decided to give her a go.”
She certainly appreciated a change of track when leading all the way from box seven over the 512 metre journey and defeating Magic Poppy by 5½ lengths in 29.82 seconds.
And as luck would have it, the time-graded race was the Federal Hotel Fast Forward Mixed Series final and carried $1215 to the winner.