Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club

Tara Raceway, Lake Terrace East, Mount Gambier, SA

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Cadillac Racing Sponsors of Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing

Another record-breaking day at Tara Raceway

From left: Noel Perry (MGGRC president), David Peckham, Adrian Jones (Sales Manager, Carlin & Gazzard MG) and Mark Dwyer (MGGRC manager) pictured with the Carlin & Gazzard MG Winter Classic winner Lochinvar Cahill.

Sunday’s greyhound racing meeting at Mount Gambier marked the eighth time this year that a track record had been broken or equalled at Tara Raceway – Victa Grosso running a record 29.18 seconds in the Hyland Fox Stake (512 metres).

And adding to the day was Lochinvar Cahill’s race record of 29.57 seconds win in the Carlin & Gazzard MG Winter Classic final (512 m).

Raced by Allendale East trainer David Peckham in partnership with Kevin “KD” Douglas and Coleraine Racing Club president Rod Neeson, Lochinvar Cahill was a runaway winner over El Banjo by 10½ lengths with a further 3½ lengths back to Menari Tom.

First run in 2014, this year’s Winter Classic win was Peckham’s first as a trainer although he had been successful in the 2020 Summer Classic with Sweet On Me.

Purchased from NSW after running second on debut at Dapto in April, the son of Fernando Bale and Tears Some is yet to taste defeat in SA, having now won five races at Tara Raceway. Also among his wins was last month’s John Reid Memorial Maiden.

Peckham said he was now giving some consideration to running Lochinvar Cahill in the forthcoming SA Derby (530 m) at Angle Park.

“He’s a July 2020 whelping and with the classic being for male greyhounds whelped on or after June 1, 2020 he’s pretty well placed as far as the age-scale is concerned.

“But this is a Group 3 race and with $25,000 to the winner it attracts some quality dogs. We’ll have to decide pretty soon, though, because the heats are being run on September 8.”

Douglas, actively involved in the three racing codes, described yesterday’s win as his best with a greyhound. He said he was now hoping the white and black dog would develop into a better than average performer.

“Actually, I received a call from Lochinvar Cahill’s original owner, Greyhound Racing NSW board director Kevin Gordon, who congratulated us on the win and suggested that later on the dog could be very good.”

On track for the Winter Classic presentation was Adrian Jones, Sales Manager of Carlin & Gazzard MG, the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club’s major sponsor.

He entered into the spirit of the occasion by bringing out MG merchandise and an MG car to Tara Raceway. Unfortunately for the winning connections the MG car wasn’t part of the package!

Douglas and Neeson were unable to attend yesterday’s meeting, the former compering the Western Border Football and Netball medal count at the South Gambier Club.

But he has watched the race. “So far, I reckon I’ve seen the replay only 20 or 30 times.”

Jayde Hurley and Nick Lalli with Victa Grosso after his record-breaking run over 512 metres at Tara Raceway on Sunday.

Mount Gambier’s record-breaking year kicked off on January 20 when the Tracie Price trained Giant’s Flash lowered the 512 metre record to 29.19 seconds. Then, three days later, Phil Lenehan’s Lektra Gal ran a record 17.28 seconds over 305 metres.

On February 6 the 400 metre record was broken when the Price-trained Minnie Banjo – a litter sister to Giant’s Flash – clocked 22.42 seconds.

Then on April 10, Mount Gambier Cup day, Giant’s Flash picked up the 600 metre record as well when running 34.69 seconds. And Emani Bale lowered the long-standing 732 metre record for Daniel Gibbons with a time of 43.10 seconds.

On July 24 Giant’s Flash equalled his 512 metre record and a week later the Price trained Urana Meat Loaf equalled Lektra Gal’s 305 metre record.

Come race 10 yesterday and Victa Grosso had generated plenty of interest. Not surprising, given that the brindle dog had won 28 races and more than $137,000 in stakemoney. Not many greyhounds of that calibre frequent Tara Raceway.

And he didn’t disappoint. The brindle son of Fernando Bale x Victa Victoria led all the way to defeat Rhonda Lily by 9½ lengths with a further 5½ lengths back to Blake’s Crossing.

Victa Grosso . . . Tara Raceway’s latest track record holder.

Raced by the Sue Schadow-managed My Four Girls Syndicate, and trained at Gifford Hill by Tony Rasmussen, Victa Grosso was handled on the day by Jayde Hurley and Nick Lalli who also enjoyed success of his own with Canya Razor.

Trained by Lisa Rasmussen for the Lalli-managed Ripped Off No More Syndicate, Canya Razor led all the way in the Rocks Tavern Stake (400 m) for an 8¾ length win over Rotate in a quick 22.77 seconds.

As an aside, the Schadow line stems from a timid 14-month-old bitch that was destined for the Greyhounds As Pets (GAP) program before Sue’s father Ron stepped in and purchased her for $1000.

Later to race as Teelah, she won eight races before becoming Ron and Joan Schadow’s foundation brood bitch. Victa Grosso, a grandson of Teelah, is just one of many to carry on the line’s success.

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