Local greyhound Wild Milly, owned by Tony Longe and trained by Tracie Price, became the longest-priced winner of a Newman McDonnell Memorial when successful last Sunday in the 39th running of the time-honoured 512 metre event at Tara Raceway.
Through to the final after running a three-quarter length second in a heat the previous week behind kennelmate Croatian Comet, Wild Milly had set herself a fair task after a slow start from box six which saw her sitting in second-last spot going out of the first turn.
And down the back straight it was Croatian Comet, Two Fifty Three, Windsor Girl and Lektra Lyanna who were contesting the lead.
But off the back, the rails opening came and the $24 chance Wild Milly grabbed her opportunity. Taking the lead turning for home, she held out the Dustin Drew trained Windsor Girl for a 1½ length win with a further length back to Croatian Comet in 30.30 seconds.
Price has done well with members of the litter by US sire Need My Moneynow out of Wild Marilyn who joined his Compton kennel from NSW more than 12 months ago. Actually, last Sunday was a good day for the litter with Wild Banker, also owned by Longe, successful at Murray Bridge.
Price also won the 2018 McDonnell Memorial with Banjo Lass, another one at double-figure odds and the least fancied of his four finalists in that race.
Newman McDonnell was a member of the inaugural committee of the South East Greyhound Racing Club. And seven years later he was president of the club when greyhound racing commenced in the south east at the Glenburnie racecourse.
Prior to that, though, in 1964, he had owned a greyhound by the name of Tara Princess, winner of the inaugural Sandown Laurels. The original Mount Gambier track carried the Tara name as does today’s venue on Lake Terrace East.
The first McDonnell Memorial was run in November 1986 when won by Kenzel Lad. And members of the McDonnell family continue to support the event each year. Daughter Margaret Considine has promised something special for next year’s 40th running.
Meanwhile, Geoff Collins, from Wattle Flat in Victoria, made one of his occasional trips to Tara Raceway last Sunday. This time he was over with Super Sequioa, trained by his partner Rosalyn Hume.
By Shima Shine, Super Sequioa is out of the imported Super C Azelle, an All American, and went into the Todd’s Photographics Stake (400 m) as a four-race winner on Victorian provincial tracks.
The black dog, whelped in February 2022, certainly looked well placed in the grade six race and duly ran up to expectations when defeating Aston Tessa by 8¾ lengths in 22.92 seconds.
Super C Azelle has two litters in Australia, both bred by Collins. The second litter, 12 months younger, is by Razor’s Edge.
Collins said one of the reasons for his trips to Tara Raceway was the track’s finish-on-lure system – “the best thing ever invented as far as greyhound racing is concerned”.
Back in the 1990s he was one of the pioneers of the industry who made a concerted effort to revolutionise greyhound breeding to take in the entire world.
Collins said frozen semen provided access to the best US sires and completely changed the landscape. Very quickly the world of greyhound racing became one.