Thursday, December 26, 2019
Bullengarook greyhound Bakali Jet couldn’t have been more impressive than when winning the Rock’s Retreat Stake (400 metres) for owner-trainer Leland Medcraft at Tara Raceway’s Christmas meeting.
Having his first start at the track, the black dog led all the way from box eight to defeat Pack It In by 2¼ lengths in 22.98 seconds, a time that even upstaged a couple of Tara Raceway’s short-course specialists in Cryer’s Harper and Faster Bolt who were successful later in the day.
An April 2017 whelping, Bakali Jet is a member of a handy litter by Collision out of NSW city-winning bitch Ursula, Medcraft picking this one up as a giveaway prior to his first race start back in February when running second at Cranbourne.
Bakali Jet has now raced on nine occasions for five wins and four minor placings, Medcraft saying that he’s the quickest dog he’s had in his 10-year involvement in the sport, however also pointing out that there had been a few hiccups along the way.
“Look, he’s a field-shy sort of dog and he has found himself in a spot of bother at a couple of Victorian tracks which is why I decided on a trip to Tara Raceway,” he said.
“I’d been here before, but not to race, and thought that the finish-on-lure might help him. I also decided to try racing him in blinkers for the first time and everything seemed to go well.”
Medcraft, who has six greyhounds in work, also has an involvement in harness racing, while back in the 90s the family had raced thoroughbreds – probably none better than Shiva’s Revenge who ran second to Let’s Elope in the 1991 Melbourne Cup.
Meanwhile, later in the day, Mortlake trainers Peter Franklin and Peter Crawley continued their winning run at Tara Raceway when Montaya, Drogheda County and Easter Orchid were all successful over 512 metres.
Franklin, who had won a maiden with Montaya earlier in the month over 400 metres, stepped the daughter of Barcia Bale x Blonde Caviar up in distance, the black bitch winding up down the back before running out a two length winner over Oscar The Scout in 29.94 seconds.
And Franklin, who has trained Tara Raceway track record holders over three different distances, believes Montaya could be his best dog yet.
“I was really pleased with her effort today,” he said. “I’d now like to get her to the city and see what she can do prior to looking to return here for the Mount Gambier Cup in March-April.”
Crawley continues to do well with greyhounds raced by the Sue Smith-managed Champagne Partners Syndicate – Drogheda County making it three wins in succession when leading all the way in the Winmore Greyhound Kennels Stake to defeat Jackie Dee in 30.18 seconds.
The syndicate then backed up in the following race, the Swallow Drive Meats Stake, with Easter Orchid, looking for two wins in succession, leading all the way to score by a half length over Raw Luxury in 30.27 seconds.
By Barcia Bale x Full Noise Turbo, Easter Orchid is a half-sister to Hit The Runway, winner of the 2017 Christmas Cup for Portland trainer Nicole Stanley.