The Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club’s January 1 meeting last week at Tara Raceway turned out to be a day of doubles after five trainers landed two winners each at the 12-race time-graded meeting.
Main race of the day was the New Year’s Gift, a 512 metre event for greyhounds with 1-6 wins to their name. And with a first prize of $1215 this was good money for the restricted event.
Over from Princetown with Princetown Flyer was April Janssen, accompanied by her husband Paul. A winner at the track a month ago, the daughter of Tommy Shelby and Ivy Wren more recently had finished unplaced behind Huntsman in a heat and the final of the Christmas Cup.
But last week she was one of the top fancies and never looked like being beaten when leading all the way for a 3¼ length win over Yankee Blood in 29.92 seconds and giving her trainer a running double.
Yankee Blood, a son of Fernando Bale and US-bred Super Tora, is owned and trained at Tylden by Dale Bunn who makes periodic visits to Tara Raceway, often with some success.
The white and brindle dog is a winner of only two races, his last success back in October 2023 at Warrnambool. Bunn originally hung on to Yankee Blood hoping he could assist in the breaking-in of some pups he had on the property.
“What happened, though, he turned out to be so much quicker than the pups I was trying to break-in that I decided to put him back in work and race him,” Bunn said.
In the race prior, the Commercial Hotel TG5+W Stake (512 m), the Janssen owned and trained odds-on favourite Swift Gift was only fairly away from box two before settling in third spot down the back.
But in the run home the daughter of Aston Rupee and Mepunga Bella, who had run second to Huntsman in the Christmas Cup, finished strongly when defeating Dirty Dash by 2¼ lengths in 30.01 seconds.
It didn’t take Warrnambool Greyhound Racing Club president Rob Gore long to land his first winner for 2026 after the red runner Naturally Girl was successful in the second race, the Metal Worx TG1-4W Stake over 305 metres.
Naturally Girl, a daughter of Cosmic Rumble and My Girl Kizzy, settled in second spot behind Puddin’ Cake before taking the lead turning for home and running out a four length winner in 17.97 seconds.
But there was further success to follow. Gore’s second winner of the day came in the last race, the Produce Store TG5+W Stake (305 m), with Moonlight Grand leading all the way from box one and defeating Unique Destiny by 2½ lengths in a tidy 17.51 seconds.
Portland trainer Nifty Lenehan’s Run Hammer made it two wins from as many starts after a keen tussle with kennelmate Senior Citizen in the Williams Crane Hire TG1-4W Stake (305 m).
Run Hammer led throughout from box four and held on for a narrow win in 17.80 seconds. By Bernardo, he’s out of Sharnee Rose, a member of the successful Mepunga Blazer x Colden Star litter which includes Carry On Angel, a winner of 23 races and $185,000 in prize money.
Lenehan’s double came up later in the day after Lektra Hank also led all the way from box four in the Cadillac Racing TG1-4W Stake (400 m) when defeating Miracle Man by 5½ lengths in 23.27 seconds. The win was the son of Bernardo x Lektra Jena’s second in succession at Tara Raceway.
Also landing a running double was Allendale East owner-trainer David Peckham who was successful with half-brothers Bourne Franky and Bourne Sid in the Klaassens Contractors TG5+W Stake (400 m) and Greg Martlew Autos TG5+W Stake (400 m).
Bourne Franky, a son of Feral Franky and Sweet On Me, quickly found the front from box seven and never looked like being beaten. On the line he had 5½ lengths to spare over Saint Finnie in 23.16 seconds.
And box five runner Bourne Sid – by US sire Superior Panama – after having last raced on the local track back in October, led all the way for a 4½ length win over Bali Unleashed in 23.14 seconds.
Compton trainer Tracie Price provided the quinella in the Icon Signs TG1-4W Stake (400 m) after Compton Shelly led all the way from box two and defeated Crowie Unleashed by three lengths in a quick 22.93 seconds.
Then, in the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 TG5+W Stake (305 m), the Price pair of Wild Star and Zinfandel Dash also ran the quinella. For Wild Star, who won in a time of 17.72 seconds, it was the daughter of Need My Moneynow and Wild Marilyn’s first win since last April.
