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

Challenge contender regains her mojo

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

So long had Galactic Mojo been away from the track due to a toe injury that the brindle bitch had been required to run a satisfactory trial at Tara Raceway prior to Worrolong trainer Steve Bartholomew being able to race her again.

Six months or more off the scene requires a steward’s trial, Galactic Mojo having last raced back at the end of March prior to running a quick 23.14 seconds trial over 400 metres at the beginning of November.

Galactic Titan (No. 2) and Galactic Mojo pictured with trainer Steve Bartholomew (left), his grandson Mason Bartlett and owner Robert Chuck after heat 2 of the Border Challenge at Tara Raceway last Sunday.

Then followed two smart 400 metre wins before Bartholomew and owner Robert Chuck, of Moorak, opted to throw her in the “deep end” and take on higher grade opposition in a heat of the Border Challenge with a greyhound that was still a grade five over the 512 metre journey.

Well drawn in box one in the second heat of the Challenge, Galactic Mojo, a daughter of Paddy Whacker x Galactic Rumball, found herself next to litter brother Galactic Titan, unbeaten at Tara Raceway in six starts and raced in the same interests.

But reputations counted for nothing last Sunday, Galactic Mojo finding the front down the back straight before running out a 1¾ length winner over big brother (he tips the scales at close to 37 kilograms) in a time of 29.94 seconds.

A quick first split of 4.31 seconds set the scene for something of a rough result in the first heat, $21 chance Flash Jackie leading all the way in the first heat of the Challenge and finishing 2¼ lengths clear of Wanchai Express ($15) in a time of 29.95 seconds.

Trained at Allendale East by David Peckham for the Nineofus Syndicate, Flash Jackie’s win was only her second since winning the inaugural Tara Trackstar (512 m) in early July.

David Peckham and Nicole Stanley with Flash Jackie and Wanchai Express after the running of the first heat of the Border Challenge.

By Dyna Double One out of former Tara Raceway 600 metre record holder Striking Viking, the black bitch’s win on Sunday was also enjoyed by Ross Schurgott and Gary Siney, two members of the syndicate who made the trip down from Adelaide for the meeting.

Wanchai Express ran home well for Adelaide owner Les Stewart and Portland trainer Nicole Stanley, the son of Bit Chili and Aunty Chopper not having won since August but a Mount Gambier Cup finalist this year.

And with a personal best time of 29.46 seconds at Tara Raceway he is one of the fastest greyhounds to go around the 512 metre circuit.

So representing Mount Gambier in the inaugural $4000-to-the-winner Border Challenge final at Warrnambool over 450 metres on Thursday, December 5 will be Flash Jackie, Wanchai Express, Galactic Mojo and Galactic Titan.

The Warrnambool Greyhound Racing Club will conduct two heats on Thursday night with Toolong owner-trainer Phil Lenehan looking to hold a strong hand with littermates Lektra Fireball and Lektra Perry who have drawn boxes one and four in their respective heats.

The littermates are by Group 1-winning stayer Destini Fireball out of Lektra Angie, who won her maiden at Tara Raceway in November 2012 by 13 lengths when clocking a quick 29.93 seconds for the 512 metre journey.


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