Tuesday, February 11, 2020
Magnet Force’s win in last Sunday’s Swallow Drive Meats Stake, her second at Tara Raceway and third overall for Murtoa owner-trainer Josh McDonald, once again resulted in 25 per cent of the prizemoney being donated to the Wimmera Southern Mallee Rural Outreach program.
The Rural Outreach program is a consortium of 11 agencies with the lead agency through the Edenhope Memorial and District Hospital, the community-based program helping people in psychological and situational distress.
Purchased as a pup by McDonald, who also reared and then broke-in Magnet Force, the black bitch was named by him in memory of Brad “Magnet” Hall, a mate who died 12 months ago at the age of 42.
By Peter Rocket, who has a couple of handy types in Tandiki and Rocketline going around Tara Raceway at the moment, Magnet Force is out of nine-race winner Maisy Mac, a litter sister to Zambora Brockie (31 wins and more than $540,000 in stakemoney).
And on the back of a luckless fifth behind Akuma Fireball the previous week, Magnet Force was always handy from box eight in last Sunday’s 400 metre sprint, finishing strongly in the home straight to defeat Our Menace and the early leader Serene Rose in 23.34 seconds.
This was another special win for the 36-year-old McDonald, who has been involved in the sport for only two years and who immediately after the race warmly embraced his nine-year-old son Logan.
Watching the race was long-time Dennington trainer Pat Bouchier who a couple of races later had Bisenti engaged in the Klaassens Contractors Mixed Stake (600 m).
“We’re crying out for younger people to be involved in greyhound racing and Josh is a credit to the sport,” he said. “I just loved the way he hugged his son after the win.”
Bisenti made a successful return to Tara Raceway after a three month injury break, leading all the way for a 6¼ length win over Miss One Love in a more than handy 35.21 seconds.
Bred by Bouchier’s wife, Patricia, Bisenti is by Dyna Double One out of Bookie, a litter sister to Beks, a former smart stayer for the Bouchiers back in 2014-2015 when winning 10 races and $100,000 in stakemoney.
Bisenti traces back to Heathmere breeder Garry Marshman’s Flaming Doll line, that bitch when mated with Knocka Norris producing Star Doll who ran a 23.05 seconds track record over 400 metres at Tara Raceway on April 19, 2013.
And although Crazy Old Duck has no connection with Flaming Doll, Marshman was also successful at last Sunday’s meeting with the nicely-bred white and blue bitch who led all the way to defeat Akuma Fireball by 5¾ lengths in 23.22 seconds in the Gambier Vets Stake (400 m).
Purchased by Marshman for $500 out of her first win, Crazy Old Duck is by Fernando Bale out of Marcus Glory, a litter sister to Marcus Joe, a winner of 20 races and more than $280,000 in stakemoney.
Meanwhile, owners and trainers are reminded that heats of the 2020 Bourne Kennels Mount Gambier Cup (512 m) and the Produce Store Maiden (512 m) will be run at Tara Raceway on Sunday, March 29.
The Group Listed $15,000-to-the-winner cup final will be the highlight of the following Sunday’s meeting (April 5), the Committee Consolation (512 m), the Produce Store Maiden final (512 m), the Tankman 600 Open (600 m) and the Formula 400 Open (400 m) adding to what should be a terrific day of racing.