Time-graded meeting regular Raylene Gavin, of Killarney, can recall doubles from years ago at Horsham and Warrnambool. But as far as Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway is concerned last Thursday’s meeting produced her first local double.
Kicking off her successful day was Zambora Jade who led all the way in the Greg Martlew Autos 5+W Stake (400 metres) when defeating kennelmate Bourne Blue who did the chasing before going down by 2¾ lengths in 23.61 seconds.
By Orson Allen out of Crazy Jo Jo – a half-sister to successful sire Zambora Brockie – Zambora Jade was picked up as a giveaway after winning a maiden at Warrnambool in December 2021.
“While we haven’t been able to win at Warrnambool with her she has now won six races here in Mount Gambier and given us a lot of fun,” said Gavin.
In the following race, the Rocks Tavern 5+W Stake (400 m), the Gavin owned and trained Bourne Rose also led all the way for a 4¼ length win over Worms Are Biting in 23.43 seconds.
Also a giveaway, the daughter of Paddy Whacker and Raz’s Girl has now won two races at Tara Raceway for Gavin.
And it appears not much has changed in the four years or so that Gavin’s husband Kevin last went on record and spoke in regard to their approach to greyhound racing.
“Look, these days we only race giveaways and we have a bit of fun with them. In fact, I reckon we’ve only ever purchased one greyhound – and it was no good!” he had said.
In all their years at Killarney, the Gavins rate their best greyhound as Irinka’s Justice, a son of Shining Chariot and Irinka Lass which they bred, owned and trained in the mid-90s.
All told, the white and black dog won 18 races at Sandown Park, Warrnambool, Horsham, Shepparton, Bendigo and Mount Gambier.
While on the subject of giveaway greyhounds, Cundare North trainer Kevin Quinn scored a good win with Cosmic Leilani in the Cadillac Racing 1-4W Stake (400 m).
A giveaway after breaking-in, Cosmic Leilani quickly found the front from box eight and was never headed when running out a 2¼ length winner over Zippy Cadillac in 23.60 seconds.
By Cosmic Rumble out of Daisy Lara, a winner of 26 races in New Zealand, Cosmic Leilani won her maiden at Warrnambool at start number two back in August last year before breaking a 27-start losing streak to bring up her second win last Thursday.
“Actually, I was very happy with her run today,” Quinn said. “I believe that finally she is starting to improve.”
He said his most successful giveaway greyhound had been Ollie, a son of Kinloch Brae and Lollipop Bling who raced between 2020 and 2022 for eight wins – four of those at Sandown Park – and close to $25,000 in prize money.
Originally from the Oaks in NSW, Quinn and his partner Cristina Gason relocated 10 years ago to Cundare North in Victoria where they now have 10 racing greyhounds.
For Koroit owner-trainer Robert Walsh it was also an okay day after his giveaway greyhound Okay Flash brought up her fifth win – her first for this year – in the Carlin & Gazzard 1-4W Stake (400 m).
Away well from box two, the daughter of Aston Dee Bee and Gold Air virtually led all the way when defeating Compton Minnie by 1½ lengths in 23.45 seconds which was one of the better times of the day.
“With all but one of her wins having been here, she obviously loves the track at Mount Gambier,” said Walsh.
Meanwhile, Compton trainer Tracie Price, successful earlier in the month in the Fast Forward final (400 m) with Jayville Zorro, now looks to hold a strong hand in today’s Fast Forward final (512 m) with Ebby Justice and Hannah Rocks.
Well back early in the first of the two Fast Forward heats, former NSW chaser Ebby Justice opened her SA winning account when coming from a long way back and railing through to defeat All Damiro by a length in 30.41 seconds.
And after Hannah Rocks’ two-dog war over 512 metres at the previous Sunday meeting with Beauty Bubbles, the fawn bitch made amends for a narrow defeat when leading all the way and defeating Bourne Nicko by two lengths in 30.25 seconds.