For this year’s Carlin & Gazzard MG Mount Gambier Cup winner Departure Gate, Sunday’s all the way win in the Progreyhoundtips.com Open Stake at Tara Raceway wrapped up a busy week for the son of Fernando Bale x Tarks Nemesis.

At the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club’s previous Sunday meeting Departure Gate had scored an emphatic 4½ length win in a Mixed Stake over 600 metres.

Then, four nights later, the black dog returned to Warrnambool for the first time in almost two years and was beaten by 4½ lengths in the Great 8 Regional Series over 650 metres.

But appearing as fresh as a daisy on the back of two middle-distance runs, Departure Gate, trained at Moorak by Jason Newman, was obviously at the top of his game as he strode to the boxes – full of self- importance – for last Sunday’s 512 metre event.

And in the end he had 4½ lengths to spare over Redeem A Prize in a quick 29.59 seconds when bringing up his 10th win at the local track this year.

Speaking after Sunday’s win, handler Melissa Freitag said Departure Gate would now be freshened in readiness for the Exchange Printers Anniversary Cup, heats of which will be run on Sunday, July 17.

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