
It’s now been more than seven years since Yambuk owner-trainer Tom Sinnott arrived at Tara Raceway one Friday afternoon in March with a greyhound called Dub Me In.
Sinnott had returned after the son of the US sire Lonesome Cry and On Shore had disappointed a couple of weeks prior when finishing fourth behind Cairnlea Peter in a heat of the 2014 Mount Gambier Cup.
And looking well placed from box one in the Allestree Holiday Units Mixed Stake (512 metres), Dub Me In duly ran out an easy winner over Monty’s Way, prompting race caller Allen Williams to declare the brindle dog had won by as far as you could kick your hat.
Actually, the margin was eight lengths and the time 29.62 seconds – a track record. And this was a record that had been a while coming, given that Robert Halliday’s Half Way Home had been the record holder with a time of 29.79 seconds since April 10, 2011.
Fast forward to 2021 and Sinnott was at Tara Raceway on Thursday for the fourth time this year with George The First, the son of another US sire in SH Avatar out of Shore’s Girl, a younger half-sister to On Shore.
George The First had previously won at Warrnambool in January over 450 metres in a smart 25.29 seconds but had yet to win at Tara Raceway. However, he looked well placed at the time-graded meeting in the Bourne Kennels 1-4 Wins Stake (512 m).
A quick beginning from box three set the scene for a demolition job as he powered away to a 12¼ lengths win in 29.48 seconds. This was the fastest time-graded time recorded this year and quite possibly, the fastest ever.
Following the race, Sinnott said George The First would not return home to Yambuk with him and wife Ann but would continue on to Gifford Hill where he would be trained by Tony Rasmussen.
“We’re in the middle of moving house at the moment so there’s a bit happening,” he said. “Tony’s trained dogs for us in the past. In fact, he trained George’s dam, Shore’s Girl, in 2017 when he won six races with her at Angle Park, Gawler and Strathalbyn.”
It was a good couple of days for the litter with Happy Ruby bringing up her sixth win for Sinnott when successful at The Meadows on the Wednesday over 525 metres for Avalon trainer Rebecca Gibbons.
Both winners take their names from Tom and Ann Sinnott’s grandchildren.
