Portland training team Nicole Stanley and Neville “Nifty” Lenehan enjoyed a successful day at Tara Raceway yesterday after De La Cruz and Applejack Strait opened their winning accounts and Shot Of Brandy impressed in her first win over 512 metres.
De La Cruz, lining up for his sixth race start in the Trackside Meats Maiden Stake (305 metres), found early trouble from box four but once getting to the outside stormed home for a neck win over Rough Boy Gus in 18.14 seconds.
In fact, his position in running in the home straight even had the race caller remarking that so close to the outside fence had De La Cruz been that he probably could have gone to the canteen.
By Bernardo, he’s out of Boomer Hargen, a well-bred two-race Mount Gambier winner for Lenehan. She’s by Barcia Bale x Punk Rock Lass and is also a litter sister to Pamela Rocks who has produced eight winners this year at Tara Raceway for Kerry Hawker and Captain Abbott.
Applejack Strait, still chasing her first win after 18 starts, defied the odds in the Carlin & Gazzard Maiden Stake (400 m) when railing through down the back before running out a two length winner over kennelmate Over Olive in 23.66 seconds.
A $41 chance, Applejack Strait is a daughter of Zambora Brockie and Lektra Brandy who won the 2019 Mount Gambier Anniversary Cup (512 m) for Lenehan.
Later in the day, Shot Of Brandy brought up a litter double when finishing strongly in the Commercial Hotel Stake (512 m) and defeating Gallon Of Yap by 4¼ lengths in a personal best time of 29.94 seconds.
From a personal point of view, last Sunday was Lenehan’s best day at the track since June 12, 2022 when he landed a treble at Tara Raceway with Master Shameem, Mrs. Cameron and Hostile Raven.
“The past week has actually been pretty good for the Lektra Brandy litter with Scrubber also winning at the Thursday meeting,” Lenehan said.
“There are also two more Lektra Brandy litters to follow – by Hooked On Scotch and Shima Shine. So we’re now looking forward to seeing how they shape up.”
Meanwhile, Compton Robbie’s consistent form continued yesterday for Portland trainer Robert Halliday.
Lining up from box two in the Metal Worx Mixed Stake (512 m), Compton Robbie was last early but off the back rounded up the field before storming home for an emphatic 5¾ length win over Moonlight Kiss in 29.71 seconds.
Purchased by Halliday in October last year, the son of Glen Gallon and 2015 Mount Gambier Cup winner Lots Of Yap has now won six races including last December’s Peter Whitehead Memorial Maiden (400 m).
While the April 2021 black dog has never been racing better, his trainer seems quite happy to keep him on his “home” track – Tara Raceway.
“Look, it’s a story that’s been told before but I’m now at the time of life when I don’t need to be breeding a litter and then hoping there’s one among them that can run a bit. Instead, I was able to purchase Compton Robbie ready to go from Tracie Price. For that, I’m extremely grateful.
“And my wife Shirley and I are way past the stage of travelling half-way around the state with greyhounds and getting home in the middle of the night. It would have to be a pretty special dog to get us away from our ‘home’ track,” he said.
Yesterday, Halliday once again pulled out his questionable pocket knife – questionable inasmuch that no one really knew where it had last been.
But as he handed out pieces of Cherry Ripe and Violet Crumble, roughly sliced with that pocket knife, he didn’t hear too many complaints.
Garry Elliott’s Lightning Pest continued her love affair with Tara Raceway’s finish-on lure in the Exchange Printers Stake (400 m) after having opened her winning account over 305 metres the previous week in a quick 17.44 seconds.
Stepping up in grade and distance, the Southern Cross-based daughter of Lightning Frank and Rixy Ya Pest once again led all the way when defeating On The Spirits by 5¼ lengths in another quick time of 22.95 seconds.