Mark and Catherine Roberts’ decision to make the trip over to Mount Gambier for Tara Raceway’s time-graded meeting last Thursday certainly paid dividends.
It was the first time at the local track for the Terang-based couple who currently have 11 dogs in work on their four-acre property.
But it’s a fair bet it won’t be their last time over after Catherine was successful with Asquith Bale and Foxtrot Tango while Mark wrapped up the day with a win in the final race with Shim’s Heart.
“We’d heard that Mount Gambier was a nice place to race at so once the borders reopened we decided we’d give it a go. I have to say it definitely lived up to our expectations,” said Mark.
Asquith Bale, a daughter of US sire Kinda Cruel Red and Lyka Allen virtually led all the way in the Trackside Meats Stake (400 metres) when defeating Aston Mateo by 1½ lengths in 23.66 seconds.
Now with her fourth trainer, she was picked up by the Roberts as a giveaway in July last year. The win was their second with the brindle bitch after a win at Warrnambool over 390 metres last November.
Having only his eighth start – his second for the Roberts kennel – Foxtrot Tango turned in one of the best performances of the day in the Bartholomew Pick 6 Stake (512 m).
Owned by Lara breeder Shane Fisher, the white and blue dog took the lead down the back straight before dashing away for a nine length win over Ivory Boy in 30.06 seconds.
The win was Foxtrot Tango’s first since relocating to Terang in November and followed on from a maiden win at Sandown Park in August.
He’s by another US sire in SE Tali Sundance out of the smart chaser Hashtag Selfie who traces back to former Adelaide breeder Bob Irvine’s prolific “Coulta” line.
Shim’s Heart brought up the Roberts’ treble when coming from a long way back to defeat Bungaloo Sarah by two lengths in the Metal Worx Stake (512 m) in 30.62 seconds.
Purchased last year for $3000, Shim’s Heart is by Shima Bar out of Nova Heart and a litter sister to Kevin Ward’s Tiger Time. A winner of 18 races, Tiger Time ran a terrific race to finish fourth behind Zipping Zarbo in last year’s Group Listed Mount Gambier Cup final.
And it was certainly a good end to the year for Mark and Catherine Roberts after Hunca Munca, a nicely bred daughter of My Redeemer x Spare Cash, had won at Ballarat and Geelong earlier in the month.