As Phil Lenehan tells it, the first greyhound arrived on the Toolong family property when he was only four years old. And he’s been involved in the sport ever since.
It was in 2016 that the $3000 Banjo Boy Winter Classic final (512 metres) at Tara Raceway included three of Lenehan’s breed – Lektra Munster, Lektra Lucy and Lektra Ash.
In what was the third running of the age-restricted classic, it was won by Lektra Munster, a son of Fabregas and Supreme Vision who traced back to Sydney Gem, the Lenehan family’s foundation dam.
A further nine years on and the classic this year took on a new name – the Cadillac Racing Spring Classic. This carried the same age restrictions, being for greyhounds whelped from July onwards two years prior to the running of the series, but was run in November instead of August.
Lenehan owned and trained greyhounds were always going to hold a strong hand in last Sunday’s final – now a $10,000 race. After all, he had half the field in Lektra Unhinged, Lektra Solo, Lektra Beta and Lektra Jane. And they all trace back to Sydney Gem.
Actually, the grand-dam of the four Lenehan finalists is Lektra Angie who 13 years ago won her maiden over 512 metres at Tara Raceway where she defeated Moorak Hope by 13¼ lengths in a best of day 29.93 seconds.
Tracie Price, Mount Gambier’s leading trainer, also looked to hold a strong hand in the final with Compton Gypsy and Capybara. The pair had fought out the previous week’s second Classic heat when running quick times of 29.41 seconds and 29.50 seconds respectively.
But come the final and it was the Lenehan trio of Lektra Solo, Lektra Unhinged and Lektra Beta – all July 2023 whelpings and giving away absolutely nothing in age – who took full advantage of the inside boxes when opening up a handy break down the back straight.
Turning for home and Lektra Solo still led the way although Lektra Beta loomed large before taking the lead in the home straight and running out a 1¼ length winner over the long-time leader and Lektra Unhinged in 29.73 seconds.
By Tommy Shelby out of Lektra Perry, Lektra Beta has raced on 20 occasions for eight wins and $23,000 in prize money. The black dog has now won at Warrnambool, Horsham, The Meadows and Mount Gambier.
Speaking last Sunday after his outstanding Spring Classic trifecta effort, Lenehan said their great grand-dam Elektra was the best dog he had been associated with.
“She raced on 101 occasions for 29 wins, which included two Group races and more than $255,000 in prize money. And with what her pups later won, the total earnings exceeded more than a million dollars,” he said.
He has won five Group races as a breeder/owner and one Group race as a trainer.
Meanwhile, Lenehan and his partner Sharon Bradley, kicked off the day with a winner when first starter Lektra Sting was successful in the Federal Hotel Maiden Stake (305 m).
The black dog overcame a slow start from box eight before railing through on the home turn and running out a three-quarter length winner over Sally Shine in 17.95 seconds.
By Plaintiff, a winner of 19 races and close to $280,000 in prize money, Lektra Sting is out of Lektra Viki whose grand-dam is Elektra.
And while Nullawarre-based Geoff Wickham and Trevor Steel had no luck in the Spring Classic with Belair Laurel, earlier in the day they had been successful with litter sister Belair Crown in the Sealeys Springworks Stake (400 m).
Matching motors early with Paul Herry’s 114-start veteran Drop Fifty, Belair Crown, a daughter of Kinloch Brae and George’s Fancy, took the lead down the back straight before holding on for a three-quarter length win in 23.33 seconds.
