Glencoe greyhound trainer Dean Fennell, first involved in the sport when racing commenced at the Lake Terrace East venue in early 1997, continued his good run this year at the track when landing his second treble at last Thursday’s time-graded meeting.
Shanny Rose kicked off his winning day and was followed by Compton Tig. Then, later in the day, it was Saint Bree who brought up her trainer’s third winner and saw him join Edenhope trainer Kerry Hawker in fourth spot on the local leading trainers’ list.
By Koblenz out of Valletta Mist, Shanny Rose led all the way in the Klaassens Contractors TG1-4W Stake (305 metres). And on the line she had three-quarters of a length to spare over Galactic Neutron in a time of 17.67 seconds.
A daughter of Barcia Bale and Lemon Ice, Valletta Mist – a winner of nine races on Victorian provincial tracks – traces back to the successful US Greys Lemon Ice line.
In the following race, the Greg Martlew Autos TG1-4W Stake (400 m), Compton Tig, a son of Feral Franky and Galactic Horizon, settled on the pace before taking the lead off the back and running out a two length winner over Classy Willow in 23.56 seconds.
And the Peter Byrne owned Saint Bree, a daughter of Fernando Bale and Mepunga Stellar, never looked like being beaten in the Carlin & Gazzard TG5+W Stake (305 m) when leading all the way from box one and running out a 3¾ length winner over Aston Ramona in 17.74 seconds.
Fennell’s first treble at Tara Raceway this year came at the end of April when he had been successful with Magic Nancy, Saint Sally and Compton Layla.
Meanwhile, also among the winners last week was Dean and Edna Fennell’s granddaughter Moe Canala who trained her first winner with Compton Lass in the Gordon Refrigeration TG5+W Stake (305 m).
By Aussie Infrared out of Banjo Lass, Compton Lass led all the way from box four when defeating Wilder by two lengths in 17.34 seconds – only a length outside the track record of 17.28 seconds which is held jointly by Lektra Gal, Urana Meat Loaf and Hello Keen.
“I guess you could say I’ve have had a fair sort of grounding in greyhound racing through my grandparents and also Nicole Stanley and Tracie and Karen Price,” said Canala, a 24-year-old locally-based school teacher.
Also keeping it in the family were Mary and Aaron Blake of North Bendigo, successful with Maisey’s Image in the Williams Crane Hire Maiden Stake (305 m).
Third early from box eight, Maisey’s Image – chasing her first win at start number seven – finished strongly in the run home when defeating Puddin’ Cake by two lengths in 18.16 seconds.
By Hooked On Scotch, Maisey’s Image is out of Adelong who won 10 races in a 38-start career which ran from October 2021 to January 2023.
Adelong, a daughter of Fernando Bale and Bonnie Beauty, won all her races at Tara Raceway in 2022 over 400 metres, 512 metres, 600 metres and 732 metres. She has since whelped a second litter of one dog and four bitches by Christo Bale in March this year.
Another family affair on the day was that of father and son team, Doug and Paul Hammerstein of Ararat – successful with Wraps and Is He Happy. Although due to health issues, Doug had been missing last Thursday.
Former NSW greyhound Wraps kept his unbeaten record at Mount Gambier intact when winning his second 512 metre race, this time the Produce Store TG5+W Stake, by 4¼ lengths over Littlefoot in 29.85 seconds.
Is He Happy, a son of Beast Unleashed and Made Me Blind, won his maiden over 305 metres at Tara Raceway in 17.83 seconds 12 months ago at his second race start. And 58 starts later he’s still going strong.
Lining up from box five in the Cadillac Racing TG5+W Stake (400 m), the black dog quickly found the front before running away to a 7¾ length win over Cadillac Landau in 23.09 seconds.
And Allendale East-based David Peckham landed a Shima Shine x Midnight Daisy litter double with Bourne Dexstar and Bourne Midnight.
Bourne Dexstar was chasing his second win after a maiden 400 metres back in March when the black dog ran 23.61 seconds. Lining up in the Todd’s Photographics TG1-4W Stake (305 m), he was last away before finishing strongly in the home straight for a two length win in 18.17 seconds.
Also slowly away in the Commercial Hotel TG1-4W Stake (400 m) was Bourne Midnight. But once settling into stride she was never going to be beaten – Bomb Rocky giving it her all when beaten 4¼ lengths into second spot in 23.17 seconds.