For the second time in three days a track record has fallen at Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway.
First it was Giant’s Flash who ran a record 29.19 seconds over the 512 metres journey at last Thursday’s meeting. Then, on Sunday, Lektra Gal posted 17.28 seconds when defeating Our Bro Paddy by 5¼ lengths in the Swallow Drive Meats Juvenile Stake (305 m).
Short course races over 305 metres have now been conducted at Tara Raceway for the past 12 months. The initial record holder was Aston Olenna who ran 17.49 seconds when winning last year’s inaugural Razza Racing Maiden for David Peckham.
That record stood until October when Arctic Bear, Lee Bartholomew’s big white and brindle dog, ran 17.35 seconds.
Lektra Gal is by Zambora Brockie out of Lektra Viki, who is a litter sister to 2019 Anniversary Cup winner Lektra Brandy. She is also a winner of 12 races at Mount Gambier, Horsham, Warrnambool, Angle Park and Strathalbyn.
The diminutive 24 kilogram January 2020 black bitch was bred and is owned and trained at Toolong by Phil Lenehan. He previously raced Lektra Stomp, twice the Mount Gambier 512 metre record holder with times of 29.45 seconds and 29.35 seconds recorded in 2018.
Well placed in the juvenile race – for greyhounds under two years of age – Lektra Gal, now a winner of six races, went into yesterday’s event on the back of a quick 390 metre win in 22.12 seconds at Warrnambool.
Despite having never raced at Tara Raceway, Lektra Gal looked right at home when leading all the way from box five and impressing Lenehan by the manner in which she went to the line.
“For sure, there’s not much of her but she does have a huge motor for about 300 metres,” he said.
Lenehan was one of a number of Victorian trainers welcomed back to Tara Raceway yesterday after months in the wilderness – as far as SA racing was concerned – due to border restrictions.
In fact, July 18, 2021 was the last time he was successful at the track.
“I had dogs engaged at last year’s Anniversary Cup meeting and won the John Reid Memorial with Lektra Moon as well as being successful in a couple of other races with Lektra Violet and Where’s Goose.
“I really enjoy Tara Raceway and its convivial atmosphere. I’ve a few in training at the moment so I’m now looking forward to getting over here on a regular basis,” he said.