Wins by Impactus and Sugar Freak at last Thursday’s time-graded meeting gave Mortlake trainer Peter Franklin his most successful day at Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway in close to five years.
It fact it was back on August 16, 2017 that Franklin landed a running treble at a Wednesday afternoon time-graded meeting with McIvor Gordon, McIvor Patsy and Chuck McIvor – all members of the Bella Infrared x Blonde Caviar litter.
But his achievements have never been restricted solely to mid-week time-graded meetings. He was actually listed on the back of that 2017 race program as the trainer of not one, but two track record holders on the same day – Mojito Mayhem (512 m) and McIvor Verna (600 m).
Mojito Mayhem, a son of Fear Zafonic x Graceful Amy, was a real cups king, winning the 2015 and 2016 Anniversary Cups at Tara Raceway. He also won the 2016 Mount Gambier Cup.
Franklin also trained his litter brother, Future Past, who represented Mount Gambier in the 2015 SA Country Cup final (531 m) at Gawler. And in 2015 another of his kennel stars in Ireland’s Oyster lowered the 400 metre record to 22.83 seconds.
Catching up with Franklin at last Thursday’s meeting was Haven trainer Jeff Guy whose $17 chance King Crow came from a fair way back to defeat Fleurieu Flyer (16/1) by a nose in the Rocks Tavern Stake (400 m) in 23.55 seconds.
Back in June 2017, Guy and Franklin had been involved in a remarkable month of track records at the Mount Gambier track.
First, on June 11, Guy’s Brazen Bomber and Paraphernalia broke the 512 metres and 600 metres track records with times of 29.55 seconds and 34.97 seconds. Then, a week later, it was Franklin’s pair that lowered those records to 29.52 seconds and 34.84 seconds.
Currently, both records stand to the credit of the Tracie Price trained Giant’s Flash – 29.19 seconds and 34.69 seconds.
But back to Thursday afternoon and Impactus was most impressive when leading all the way in the Greg Martlew Autos Stake (400 m). Away quickly from box one, the fawn dog defeated the Guy-trained Sanctioned by 6¼ lengths in a best of day 23.06 seconds.
Impactus joined Franklin’s kennels two months ago as an unraced youngster after a couple of previous trainers had moved him on as they believed he was not up to city class.
He is raced by brothers Ali Zulfigar and Imran Arshad who purchased the son of Zambora Brockie and Tantalise (by Bella Infrared) as a pup.
“Ali actually trains greyhounds in Pakistan, while Imran lives in Melbourne,” Franklin said. “Impactus is the third dog I’ve had for them and he was one of the first they purchased.
“It’s probably fair to say that they’ve put a fair amount into their first venture in Australian greyhound racing as they continue to look for a city dog.”
Franklin said one of the biggest problems with last Thursday’s winner was that he more often than not found trouble in his races.
“I trialled him at Tara Raceway in the lead-up to the race because he needs to see the track he’s going to race on. He certainly does get easily lost.”