It was a day of fast times at Tara Raceway last Sunday. And from a 512 metre point of view there were none faster than Lektra Carry, owned and trained at Toolong by Phil Lenehan who also bred the daughter of Fernando Bale and Lektra Perry.
Lining up in the Todd’s Photographics Stake on the back of a 450 metre win at Warrnambool the previous Thursday night, the white and black bitch led all the way, defeating her litter sisters Lektra Remi and Lektra Lyanna by 3¼ lengths and 2¾ lengths respectively in 29.47 seconds.
Lenehan said he had approached Sunday’s race with some trepidation given that the Warrnambool win had been soured somewhat after Lektra Carry had been severely interfered with in the catching pen.
“She had taken quite a battering after the race and I was hoping that wouldn’t put her off her game on Sunday at Tara Raceway. Fortunately she never missed a beat and that was a real relief,” he said.
Now a winner of six races from 16 starts, Lektra Carry is likely to line up in Sunday’s Exchange Printers Anniversary Cup heats (512 m). This is a time-honoured race Lenehan is yet to win although Neville Lenehan was successful in 2019 with one of his brother’s breed – Lektra Brandy.
Top Cadillac’s outstanding record over 600 metres at Tara Raceway continued for Edenhope owner-trainer Cap Abbott when the son of Feral Franky and Establish took his middle-distance record at the track to six wins from seven starts.
The black dog chased Zipping Shakira into the back straight in the Commercial Hotel Mixed Stake before taking up the running and racing away to a six length win in 34.63 seconds.
And with the time the second-fastest ever run at the track over 600 metres – only Giant Flash’s record-breaking run of 34.58 seconds on December 4, 2022 is faster – Top Cadillac sounded another ominous warning as far as the Anniversary Cup is concerned.
Meanwhile, later at Murray Bridge, Wild Banker scored a good win for Compton trainer Tracie Price over 455 metres in 25.67 seconds. Already a winner of three Anniversary Cups, Price looks to once again hold a strong hand in the $8000 event.
But back at Mount Gambier and Terang owner-trainer Mark Roberts, whose last winner at Tara Raceway was on January 12, 2023 with Hatchet Harry, had returned with a Lektra dog – Lektra Tony, a son of Houdini Boy and Lektra Jena.
A winner at the track over 400 metres in 23.04 seconds when with Lenehan, Lektra Tony led all the way from box two last Sunday in the Cadillac Racing Stake (400 m) for a 4¼ length win over kennelmate Lala Turbo in 22.64 seconds. Another best of day time for the Lektra dogs.
Another winner from the previous Thursday night at Warrnambool to race on Sunday had been Shore’s Pick, previously owned and trained at Yambuk by Tom Sinnott but now trained at Glenroy by Richard Clayfield.
By Bernardo out of Shore’s Girl, Shore’s Pick chased Moe Them Down in the Klaassens Contractors Stake (400 m) until off the back where she took up the running before winning by 2¼ lengths in 22.88 seconds.
Simson trainer Calum Blake and his wife Jaz, whose last winner at Tara Raceway had been with Artificial Blue in December last year, had first starter Agon Caramel engaged in the Federal Hotel Maiden Stake (400 m).
The fawn bitch settled in second spot behind tearaway leader Time To Burn but on the line had 1¼ lengths to spare in a time of 23.38 seconds.
A giveaway greyhound, Agon Caramel is by Fernando Bale out of Rasputia, who won seven Victorian provincial races and $18,000 in prize money.
“She came by way of breeder Daniel Pell who we’ve had quite a few dealings with,” Calum said. “In fact, Artificial Blue also came from Daniel and the blue dog has now won 15 races and $23,000 in prize money.”
Subject to nominations, heats of the Exchange Printers Anniversary Cup will be run on Sunday, along with heats of the 20th John Reid Memorial Maiden (512 metres). The finals will be run on Sunday, July 21, in conjunction with the Eric Lewis Memorial over 732 metres.