Tuesday, December 3, 2019

For the first time in 12 months, Mortlake trainer Peter Franklin returns to Tara Raceway for Thursday’s time-graded meeting with an interesting first starter in the form of Montaya.

By Barcia Bale out of Blonde Caviar, the December 2017 black bitch is a half-sister to McIvor Verna who broke Paraphernalia’s 600 metre Tara Raceway record of 34.97 seconds when clocking 34.84 seconds on June 18, 2017 for Franklin.

That record actually stood until April 21, 2019 when Pirate’s Curse ran 34.79 seconds.

But Franklin has also been associated with a couple of other Tara Raceway records holders, Ireland’s Oyster a one-time 400 metre record holder at 22.83 seconds and, of course, Mojito Mayhem who held the 512 metre record.

In fact, in what was a truly remarkable day, the multi cups-winning Mojito Mayhem ran a record 29.52 seconds – which stood until March 11, 2018 – on the same day as McIvor Verna lowered the middle-distance record.

Meanwhile, in a change of plans, Greyhound Racing SA Racing Manager, Shaun Mathieson, will be at Thursday’s Tara Raceway meeting.

Mathieson’s trip has been arranged by the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club in order that participants can discuss any issues they may have with the time-grading system or any other matters pertaining to greyhound racing.

And Thursday night will see the running of the inaugural Border Challenge between the Warrnambool Greyhound Racing Club and the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club.

Four qualified greyhounds from each club will clash at Warrnambool over 450 metres with the winner receiving $4000. From a Mount Gambier point of view, the Nicole Stanley trained Wanchai Express fared well with the draw when coming up with box one.

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