The introduction of yesterday’s Fast Forward time-graded series at Tara Raceway threw up something of a surprise when former NSW greyhound Mrs. Watson ran the fastest of the five 1-4 wins heats over 400 metres.
And, it seems, no one was more surprised than her Mortlake-based owner-trainer Shaun Baulch, a regular at Mount Gambier’s Thursday afternoon meetings.
“Gee, I certainly didn’t see that coming,” a delighted Baulch said after the blue daughter of Ando’s Mac and Flying Kitty led all the way in the third heat to score an 11¼ lengths win in a best of day 22.92 seconds.
Flying Kitty is a litter sister to Keybow, a winner of 27 races and more than $580,000 in stakemoney. And for Baulch it was a case of being in the right place at the right time late last year when Mrs. Watson was advertised as a giveaway.
“She had raced only twice at The Gardens over 272 metres when she was advertised so I figured there could be a bit more improvement in her, especially given her excellent bloodlines,” he said.
Yesterday’s win was Mrs. Watson’s second after she had won her maiden for Baulch last month at Warrnambool over 450 metres.
As far as race times are concerned, she now heads into next week’s Fast Forward final with a slight edge over Correlate who clocked 23.13 seconds when defeating her kennelmates Trademark Bourne and Recapture Time.
Formerly trained at Allendale East by David Peckham, Correlate was later transferred to the Langhorne Creek kennels of Tony Hinrichsen who trained a double with Major Tom Fury and Cash Storm.
And Purdeet-based Annette Kampman couldn’t remember the last time she had trained a double after litter sisters Myola Queen and Myola Pocket both scored easy wins in their respective races.
Also bred by Kampman, the October 2019 daughters of Lightning Frank and Pocket Queen both brought up their second wins yesterday. Myola Pocket scored a dashing win in the second heat of the Fast Forward and is now in line for a run in the final.
The final field of eight will be made up of greyhounds running the fastest times in the heats, regardless of their position in those heats.
Although yet to be confirmed, the final field is likely to come from the following: Mrs. Watson 22.92, Correlate 23.13, Trademark Bourne 23.22, Recapture Time 23.27, Galactic Dreamer 23.30, Compton Banjo 23.39, Johnny Deeds 23.44, Myola Pocket 23.45, Gold Mate 23.45, Toora Zara 23.60.