Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club

Tara Raceway, Lake Terrace East, Mount Gambier, SA

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Deano and Robbo’s road trip from hell

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Glencoe greyhound trainer Dean Fennell and Mount Gambier owner Michael Robinson’s decision to race Perseverance at a recent Gawler Friday meeting sounded like a good idea.

After all, their daughter of Dyna Double One and Miss Freelove had been racing well at Tara Raceway where she had won at her past two starts over 600 metres. A change of track and a run over the 643 metres distance certainly wouldn’t do her any harm.

Compton trainer Tracie Price also had greyhounds engaged that day. But he intended staying overnight thus necessitating the taking of two cars and a travelling companion for the long trip home for Fennell who was returning the same day.

Michael Robinson (left) and Dean Fennell . . . back in town after a road trip from hell.

It has to be said, Robinson is no lover of long car trips to see his greyhounds race. “I agreed to accompany Deano but to be honest I would rather be watching the races on television. I need a bloody week to get over one of these trips,” he said.

Price, whose association with Gawler goes back to 2013 when he won the SA Country Cup with Moorak Hope, ensured the convoy made it to the northern track – Perseverance then faced with the daunting task of taking on Boom Down, a winner of 22 races and close to $300,000 in stakemoney.

Boom Down, aside, the Gawler track is a tough assignment first up, the “quiet” lure ensuring Perseverance missed the start and never really getting into the race before finishing fifth.

If nothing else, though, Fennell and Robinson could return to Mount Gambier well satisfied that their black bitch would have benefited from a run on a different track and would now appreciate a return to Tara Raceway.

Mind you, first they had to get back to Mount Gambier. Robinson takes up the story.

“Fair enough, we should have taken more note of the route we were taking on the way up. But Tracie said take two turns left and one right. That will get you to Williamstown. Keep going to Palmer and before long you’ll hit Murray Bridge.

“Maybe he said two turns right and one left, I don’t know. All I know is that before long Deano had us hopelessly lost with Williamstown nowhere in sight.

“In the end he suggested we head to Adelaide and then travel to Mount Gambier via the South Eastern Freeway. That sounded like a good idea.

“The only trouble was that for the second time that night we found ourselves hopelessly lost, this time in Adelaide and still a long way from our final destination.

“And as we finally drove into Mount Gambier at some ungodly hour on the Saturday morning I did mention to Deano the next time Perseverance raced anywhere but Tara Raceway that I would be watching the race from the comfort of my lounge room.”

However, the intrepid travellers were all back in their comfort zone last Thursday – owner and trainer taking no wrong turns when making their way to Tara Raceway and Perseverance running a personal best 35.18 seconds over 600 metres when winning by 5¾ lengths.

Meanwhile, Portland pre-COVID-19 Tara Raceway regulars Nicole Stanley, Nifty Lenehan and Ben Boers enjoyed a successful day at Warrnambool’s 250+ ranking meeting on Monday.

The Stanley-bred and trained El Senor Verde, a son of Walk Hard and Miss Shirleen (a litter sister to Old Jock, the 2016 Mount Gambier Greyhound of the Year), opened his winning account over 390 metres at start number three while later in the day Oscar The Scout gave her a double.

Hostile Savage in action at Tara Raceway.

The Lenehan trained Hostile Savage was an impressive winner over 450 metres, the black dog finding the front approaching the bend before powering away to an easy win in 25.48 seconds.

Purchased as a pup by Jim Collins, previously a regular at Tara Raceway Sunday meetings, Hostile Savage is by Hostile out of Sweet Savage, a winner of five races and a member of the successful Cape Hawke x Rustic Reeta litter.

And the Boers-bred and trained Lots Of Nitro, a son of Nitro Burst and 2015 Mount Gambier Cup winner Lots Of Yap, quickly found the front before scoring a comfortable win over 390 metres.
Monday was the second of Warrnambool’s scheduled fortnightly low grade meetings which are paying a first prize of $825.

Local greyhound followers will be keen to follow the fortunes tomorrow night of Galactic Athena who will compete at Sandown Park over 515 metres for new trainer David Geall of Lara.


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