Compton-based Tracie Price emulated his best-ever day at the race track when training a record-equalling six winners on yesterday’s 12-race card at Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway.
Kicking off the day was four-year-old chaser Charley Davidson in the Masters event over 305 metres. Following were Compton Fabio, Whole Way, Compton Casey, Minnie Banjo and Compton Ruby in the Rock’s Tavern Grade Five final (512 m).
Once again, Shannon, a member of the Horsham-based syndicate Matt Moose Bruza Shannon Dyllan, made the trip over to watch Charley Davidson line-up for his 103rd race start in the Exchange Printers Stake.
And the trip was once again worthwhile. The son of Barcia Bale x Oriental Jewel led all the way to bring up his sixth consecutive win at Tara Raceway over the short course distance.
Only track record holder Nellie Noodles has run faster than Whole Way over the 732 metre journey at Tara Raceway. And the son of Spring Gun x Springvale Hope took the drop back to 512 metres in his stride in yesterday’s Klaassens Contractors Stake.
Raced by Daniella Madalinski and Michael Ceravolo, Whole Way led all the way from box one, eventually running out an 8¾ length winner over Lily Pad in 29.62 seconds which was easily the best of the day.
Come the Greg Martlew Autos Open Stake (400 m) and Price had 512 metre track record holder Giant’s Flash’s litter sister Minnie Banjo also lining up for her sixth consecutive success after four local wins and one at Angle Park.
Raced by Garry Harding’s Giant Crows Syndicate, the daughter of Banjo Boy x Navada Flame soon found the front before running away to a four length win over Lily’s Lad in a best of day 22.69 seconds.
Price-trained greyhounds ran the trifecta in the grade five final, Compton Ruby finding the front down the back and holding on to defeat a fast finishing Starlight Dusty and the early leader Right Way in a time of 29.85 seconds.
And an unheard-of seven winners looked a distinct possibility after odds-on favourite Rhonda Lily found the front early before being run down by Jason Newman’s Locked who scored by 2¾ lengths in a quick 34.93 seconds.
Price’s last record-winning day of six winners had been on Sunday, September 20, 2015 when Roma’s Moment, Whatta Moment, Mellow And Black, Fear The Rascal, Pam’s Boy and Who’s Doing What had been successful.
The record for most number of wins at a Tara Raceway meeting is shared with Allendale East-based David Peckham who was successful with Bourne Maximum, Call Me Billy, Fabs You Go, Squishy Pea, Dyna Carnie and Bourne Blackjack on Sunday, February 16, 2020.