Compton Casey’s all the way win on debut in Thursday’s Produce Store Maiden Stake (400 metres) at Tara Raceway in 23.34 seconds was a good start for her dam Miss Freelove’s second litter – whelped in November 2019 and by Mepunga Blazer.
By Smooth Fancy out of the prolific producer Casey’s Angel, Miss Freelove, in a racing career that had been hampered by injuries sustained as a pup, won four races in WA before finding her way to Tracie and Karen Price’s Compton kennels.
Miss Freelove’s first litter, by Dyna Double One, produced 22 winners at Tara Raceway last year and saw her finish in third spot behind Headline 26 and Lots Of Yap 23 on the leading dams’ list.
Her best performer was 2020 Mount Gambier Greyhound of the Year Perseverance, who recorded 10 wins, eight seconds and four thirds to win the award with 60 points. She was purchased as a pup from the Prices by Michael Robinson and is trained at Glencoe by Dean Fennell.
Speaking after Thursday’s win, Tracie Price said it was likely Compton Casey would soon relocate to Victoria where she would be with young Group 1-winning trainer Kayla Cottrell of Pearcedale.
While youngsters from Headline’s second litter – by My Redeemer – are now hitting the track, it will be still be a while before Lots Of Yap’s next litter by Glen Gallon is racing.
However, her first litter by Nitro Burst is still producing winners with Nitro Yap recording an impressive 22.78 seconds win over 400 metres for Ben Boers at Tara Raceway last week.
And See Nitro and Rose Bay opened their winning accounts this year when successful at Tara Raceway on Thursday for Portland owner-trainer Andy Graham.
See Nitro, whose last win had been at Tara Raceway in December when she defeated the smart chaser Venus And Mars in a quick 29.78 seconds, led all the way in the Gordon Refrigeration 5+ Wins Stake (512 m) for a 2¾ lengths win over Dick Grayson in 29.96 seconds.
Graham said See Nitro, sidelined by injury for the early part of the year, was definitely better suited to the 512 metres journey.
“All her previous races this year had been over 400 metres so when she found the front I was just hoping she wasn’t a run short. Fortunately that wasn’t the case.”
Having only her second run this year, the injury-prone Rose Bay finished over the top of Bazil Brush in the Exchange Printers 1-4 Wins Stake (400 m) for a one length win in 23.74 seconds.
“Nothing flash about the time but after 15 months it was nice to finally win another race with her,” Graham said.