It was back in 2021 that Edenhope-based Kerry Hawker and Captain Abbott, of Cadillac Racing, first became associated with progeny of Pamela Rocks, a daughter of Barcia Bale and Punk Rock Lass who had won races at Shepparton and Bendigo.
Based at Bendigo, she whelped her first litter – by Matt’s Entity – in May 2019 with Hawker and Abbott later purchasing Gold Rocks and One Tonne to race at Tara Raceway where the littermates both won races.
And when Pamela Rocks whelped her second litter in April 2021, this time by Fernando Bale, they opted to purchase the whole litter which ultimately included multiple winners Cadillac Lloyd, Cadillac Magic, Cadillac Rocks and Cadillac Star.
By the time her third litter came along in February 2022, the Cadillac team actually owned Pamela Rocks and had mated her with the imported sire Premier Fantasy.
This time around, among the progeny was Cadillac Landau, a winner of 19 races from 102 starts and Cadillac Ragtop who was successful last Sunday at Tara Raceway when winning the Federal Hotel Mixed Stake (305 metres).
Chasing her 36th win and always on the pace from box three at what was her 126th start, the black bitch ran out a half-length winner over Something Good in a time of 17.70 seconds.
Speaking after the win, a delighted Kerry Hawker said the 11-year-old Pamela Rocks these days was thoroughly enjoying her retirement at the Cadillac Kennels.
The win of Inga Noah in the first race, the Klaassens Contractors Maiden Stake (305 m), gave well known Camperdown greyhound educator Vito and his wife Mary Inguanti their first success at Tara Raceway.
Having his fourth race start, the August 2024 blue dog quickly found the front from box five and in what was a tight three-way finish scored a head win over Moonlight Haze with a further half head back to Cinta’s Me Mum in 17.97 seconds.
The win was a real family affair with Inga Noah handled by son Peter who said the litter comprised of five blue dogs by Tommy Shelby out of Inga Mia. He was also hopeful of bringing some of those over to race at Tara Raceway.
Inga Mia’s first of three litters, by Bali Unleashed, includes handy types Inga Amy, Inga Buddy and Inga Johnny.
Later in the day, Peter went close to training a winner in his own right after Something Good ran a half-length second to Cadillac Ragtop.
“Our involvement in greyhounds goes back some 30 years,” he said. “These days my parents look after the breeding side of things while I run the breaking-in track.”
As far as greyhounds from the past that the family has been involved with, he rates Settlement Day, a son of My Redeemer and Miss Energiser, and a winner of 18 races and $74,000 in prize money, as one of the better ones.
And given Peter Inguanti’s involvement with greyhound tracks over a long period of time, it was interesting to hear his view on Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway.
“I have to say I was most impressed with the track here. With a finish-on lure fitted with a loud squeaker it certainly does its best to encourage the greyhounds in their pursuit of the lure.”
Later in the day, Warrnambool trainer Linda Gore’s Moonlight River was back among the winners for the first time since August last year. And given the manner in which the black dog won, it was certainly a case of making up for lost time.
The son of Cosmic Rumble and My Girl Kizzy quickly found the front from box one before running out a 12¾ length winner over Ollie Limes in the Icon Signs Stake (512 m) in 29.74 seconds.
The win came on the back of wins four days earlier at Tara Raceway where Our Girl Selkie and Moonlight Grand were successful for Linda and Rob Gore.
Oregon Janet wrapped up a busy week for Lewiston trainer Lucas Trengove when leading all the way last Sunday in the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 Stake (732 m) for a four length win over Noel Perry’s Compton Rocky in 43.71 seconds.
It had been a busy week for the Trengove-trained daughter of Malachi and La La Oregon who in the space of a week had contested three distance races – two at Tara Raceway for two wins and the other at Angle Park for a second on the Thursday night over 730 metres.
And it had been a change of luck for the OB Flat-based Perry in the following race, the Commercial Hotel Stake (400 m), after Trading Halt settled in second spot from box five behind Penny Pinto before finishing the stronger for a half-length win in 23.39 seconds.