Fast times were the order of the day at yesterday’s Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club’s opening meeting for 2022 at Tara Raceway.
But for all that, Nellie Noodles’ longstanding record of 43.45 seconds, recorded at the Mount Gambier Cup meeting back on March 27, 2011, continues to stand the test of time.
With the Nellie Noodles New Year’s Gift (732 metres) highlighted by the inclusion of Frankie Boy, a winner of his past four starts over 730 metres at Angle Park, a track record certainly didn’t appear to be out of the question.
Then there was also Tracie Price’s Whole Way, the son of Spring Gun x Springvale Hope the second-fastest dog to race over the distance at Tara Raceway after recording a time of 43.37 seconds on November 7 last year.
Shortly after the start, though, Frankie Boy – a winner of $36,000 in only 15 starts – was severely checked and probably out of contention. Whole Way, on the other hand, was bowling along out in front and looking the likely winner.
And that’s how it played out, Whole Way hanging on to win by a length from Mick’s Kimmy while Frankie Boy made up a stack of ground to finish 2½ lengths back in third spot in 43.66 seconds.
Raced by Adelaide owners Daniella Madalinski and Michael Ceravolo, the winner has been a model of consistency at Tara Raceway since joining the Compton-based Price’s kennels last October.
All told, Whole Way has raced on 12 occasions at Tara Raceway for six wins ranging from 400 metres to 732 metres and six minor placings.
The Nellie Noodles New Year’s Gift was conducted in recognition of the daughter of Flying Penske x Classy Creek who ran the 732 metre record when defeating Bowstreet Secret by 17½ lengths in what would be her last win in a 35-start career.
It was a big start to the year for Price. Charley Davidson won the Todd’s Photographics Masters Stake (305 m) and for Minnie Banjo it was her third successive 400 metre win at Tara Raceway in the Hyland Fox Stake.
Making it four wins for the day was former WA chaser Rhonda Lily who gave promise of bigger and better things to come when leading all the way in the Trackside Meats Stake (512 m) to defeat Compton Brett in a quick 29.59 seconds.