Local owner-trainer Noel Perry landed his first double in two years at Tara Raceway when Rough Girl Slim and Rough Girl Ruby were successful at last Thursday’s time-graded meeting.
Rough Girl Slim, a daughter of My Redeemer and Vossy, was bred by Perry who also owns and trains the brindle bitch – chasing her first win since January when lining up from box eight in the Produce Store TG5+W Stake (400 metres).
A $15 chance, the brindle bitch settled in third spot down the back before running home strongly and edging out the Kevin Mugavin trained Patrice Lass for a head win in 23.54 seconds.
Later in the day, Perry and Mugavin-trained greyhounds did battle again in the Gordon Refrigeration TG1-4W Stake (305 m) with Perry’s Rough Girl Ruby narrowly defeating the Mugavin trained Good Value by a neck in 18.04 seconds.
A daughter of Wow and Another Pick, Rough Girl Ruby was purchased as a pup by Perry from Cadillac Racing’s Captain Abbott and Kerry Hawker.
For Perry, of OB Flat, his last Tara Raceway double – on June 4, 2023 – had been with Rough Boy Devil and Rough In Vegas.
But for the Killarney-based Mugavin, who trained Poetic Magic and Rich Shiraz to win Mount Gambier Cups in 2006 and 2012, he did break through for a win last week with Eric Quirk who defeated Magic Poppy by 2¼ lengths in the Da’Leni Meats TG1-4W Stake (400 m).
By the well-bred Aeroplane Eric out of Cloona Lass, Eric Quirk is a half-brother to Patrice Lass and a full-brother to Good Value.
“That was his first win here in Mount Gambier,” Mugavin said. “And hopefully that will give him a bit of confidence as he runs through the grades.”
Also landing a double on the day was Portland-based Nicole Stanley who was successful with Quincy Bones and My Boy Josh. Her last double at Tara Raceway had been with De La Cruz and Aston Secret on May 28, 2023.
Quincy Bones, a December 2021 son of Allen Deed and Little Queeny, was chasing his first win at start number 23 when jumping from box five in the Greg Martlew Autos Maiden Stake (400 m).
Slowly away, the Portland bred black dog finished strongly in the run home when defeating Tony Hinrichsen’s Beaujolais Fury by three-quarters of a length in 24.10 seconds. And no one was more surprised with the win than handler Neville “Nifty” Lenehan.
“To be honest I’d given up on him ever winning a race,” he said. “He’s such a bad box dog and even though he won today he still made a real mess of the start.
“There have now been five to race from the litter and they have all won races – Quincy Bones, Jacaranda, Kahu, Smart Operator and Smokin’ Chicken. And Little Queeny recently whelped two dogs and two bitches by Shima Shine.”
My Boy Josh brought up his 12th win when settling in second spot behind Smart Operator in the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 TG5+W Stake (400 m). He then finished strongly in the home straight, defeating Cadillac Ragtop by 1¼ lengths in 23.17 seconds.
Langhorne Creek owner-trainer Tony Hinrichsen made amends for Beaujolais Fury’s defeat after a win in the Icon Signs TG1-4W Stake (305 m) with Miniature Fury who led all the way from box two and defeated Gnome To Burn by two lengths in 18.19 seconds.
A December 2023 daughter of Aston Rupee and Chardonnay Lady, the 22 kilogram Miniature Fury had been bred in Queensland and, together with one of its littermates, reared on a one-for-one basis at Langhorne Creek.
The dashing 4½ lengths win by Crymelon Comet in the Winning Post Supplies TG5+W Stake (400 m) over Blue To Burn had Warracknabeal owner-trainer Ian Bibby suggesting that the son of Hawk Alone and Crymelon Holly could well be the oldest winner at the Mount Gambier track.
With Tony Hinrichsen on course last Thursday, the first greyhound to come to mind was Filthy Phantom. But the son of Lochinvar Marlow and Ruby Swift was a week short of his sixth birthday when winning his last race at Tara Raceway.
Crymelon Comet was whelped on April 1, 2019 and won at the Mount Gambier track last week at the age of six years and 115 days. Bibby would be keen to hear from anyone who believes they know of an older greyhound to have won at the local track.
