For Koroit greyhound trainer Peter Keane, last Sunday’s race meeting at Tara Raceway kicked off with a record-equalling track record (his first-ever) over 305 metres and then just continued to get better.
Hello Keen’s record-equalling run of 17.28 seconds in the Klaassens Contractors Masters Stake was a real family affair. The son of Fernando Bale and Sisco Sizzle is raced by Keane’s sister-in-law Bev Keane who had purchased the brindle dog as a pup.
Chasing his first win since January, Hello Keen virtually led all the way when defeating Bungaloo Anne by 2¾ lengths in a time equal to that of Lektra Gal – owned and trained by Keane’s nephew Phil Lenehan – run back on January 23, 2022, and Tracie Price’s Urana Meat Loaf (July 31, 2022).
And while there are some restrictions placed on 305 metre racing at Tara Raceway, the fact that Hello Keen was able to equal the record as a five-year-old simply confirms Keane’s opinion of the dog.
“He’s been a terrific dog for us, having now raced on 74 occasions for 23 wins. The only thing I’m finding with him now that’s he getting older is that I’ve had to modify his training somewhat given that he continues to be full on whenever he’s in the galloping paddock.”
Lindsay Brookes, manager of the Many Winners Syndicate who race Mighty Molly, was also on track to see the Keane-trained half-sister to Hello Keen score a big win in the Greg Martlew Autos Stake (400 m).
By Zambora Brockie, Mighty Molly was always on the pace before finishing strongly and defeating Kerry’s Cadillac by two lengths in a personal best time of 22.95 seconds.
Bringing up Keane’s treble was the locally owned Crafter Road who chased Velocity Lotus for much of the appropriately named Commercial Hotel Mixed Stake (600 m) before finishing strongly for a narrow win in 35.08 seconds.
By My Redeemer out of Black Pontiac, Crafter Road is owned by Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club life member Noel Miller, Peter Lamond of the Commercial Hotel and real estate agent Gail Richards of Key 2 Sale.
The win vindicated Keane’s call of some weeks ago when he said that he believed Crafter Road would probably be well suited over the 600 metre journey.
“He needed a couple of hit-outs over the middle-distance but I thought his third effort today was full of merit,” Keane said. “Actually, I reckon it was good way to bring up a treble.”
The Mount Gambier treble was his first since November 4, 2018 when he had been successful with Cool Number, My Mandara and Speedy Scar.
Meanwhile, the second running of the ANZAC Gift (512 m) looked to be a terrific race – and that’s how it turned out.
Aston Ziebell, a recent Mount Gambier Cup finalist, and trained at Allendale East by David Peckham, looked to be one of the hardest to beat. However, the Tracie Price trained Hooked On Love was coming off a recent impressive Horsham win over 485 metres.
And Price was making no secret of the fact that he had been hoping to make it consecutive ANZAC Gift wins after Giant’s Flash’s success last year in 29.29 seconds.
In the end it was Aston Ziebell who led all the way while Hooked On Love was left to do the chasing. But this was never going to be a repeat of last year’s walkover win.
In fact, on the line only a head separated the pair with Aston Ziebell running the same time as last year’s winner and Hooked On Love clocking 29.30 seconds.
Once again, making the ANZAC Gift presentation was Hamilton-based trainer Tony Harding, a Tara Raceway regular. He had been conscripted at 21 and was based at Woodside for six months prior to serving as a rifleman in the 3rd Battalion RAR (Infantry) in Vietnam during 1967-1968.
Aston Ziebell’s win wrapped up another good day at the local track for Peckham. Cawbourne Stella knocked over a fair sort of Juvenile field when running 17.53 seconds for the 305 metre journey in the Williams Crane Hire Juvenile.
And Bourne Nicko, a member of the successful Bernardo x Dusseldorp litter, looked pretty good when opening his winning account in the Todd’s Photographics Mixed Stake (400 m) at start number four in a time of 22.96 seconds.