Tuesday, December 3, 2019
An outstanding win by Polar Missile in last Sunday’s O’Brien Electrical Stake (512 metres) now has Portland greyhound trainer Neville “Nifty” Lenehan looking at his second Tara Raceway cup success this year.
In July, he had been successful in the Anniversary Cup (512 m) with Lektra Brandy who staged an incredible effort to come from near last early and defeat Dyna Naitch by 1¼ lengths in a quick 29.63 seconds.
Contesting a heat of a grade five series from box one at last week’s main meeting, the 36 kilogram Polar Missile chased Jackie Dee until the home turn where he took over the running and finished powerfully to score by 5½ lengths in a personal best 29.85 seconds.
Raced by Karen Pitt of Pearcedale, Polar Missile is a member of the Nitro Burst x Harper Seven litter, Lenehan winning the Sims Memorial Maiden at Tara Raceway early this year with litter sister Twisted Missile.
After this Sunday’s grade five final, in which Polar Missile has once again drawn box one, Lenehan is likely to tackle the Williams Crane Hire Christmas Cup (512 m), heats of which will be run on Sunday, December 15.
The Christmas Cup was first run in 2011 when won by the David Peckham trained Napoleon Wiz in 30.20 seconds.
Winners to follow have been Lika Gem (Allen Williams) 30.27, Bourne Again (David Peckham) 30.41, Who’s Doing What (Tracie Price) 29.77, Fear The Rascal (Tracie Price) 30.09, Glenville Jester (Richard Clayfield) 30.05, Hit The Runway (Nicole Stanley) 30.42 and Hutch (Robert Halliday) 29.86.