The win of Saint Rock in last Sunday’s Metal Worx Mixed Stake (600 metres) at Tara Raceway continued the successful run Mortlake owner-trainer Paul Herry has enjoyed with reasonably-priced purchases from Bendigo’s Ready 2 Race Sale.
The annual sale allows prospective purchasers the opportunity to witness all lots competing under race conditions prior to an auction taking place. Herry picked up Saint Rock for $1000 after he had run third in a final over 425 metres. The highest price paid on the day was $31,000.
Three years ago, Herry, one of the good guys of greyhound racing, won the Sims Memorial Maiden at Tara Raceway with Got Some Cheek, a Ready 2 Race purchase. Later, he won races with another auction purchase in Miss Klara.
Saint Rock, a son of Peter Rocket and Maisy Mac – a litter sister to former top chaser Zambora Brockie – was originally also trained by his owner for his first 30-odd starts.
“I didn’t win a race although he did run a few placings. Actually, I derived quite a bit of pleasure out of racing him,” Herry said. “But with others coming on, I finally decided that I would probably have to place him in the Greyhound Adoption Program.
“Prior to a GAP assessment, though, I was talking to Saint Rock’s breeder Peter Byrne at his Koroit trial track. He suggested fellow Koroit greyhound man Robbie Walsh might be interested in taking over his training for me.”
Walsh’s decision at the end of September to take over the training of Saint Rock has turned out to be mutually beneficial to both parties – the black dog successful at Warrnambool, Ballarat, The Meadows and now Mount Gambier.
For Walsh, the win, which came after a keen tussle with perennial 600 metres placegetter Close Your Eyes, was his first at Tara Raceway in almost 12 months after Belfast Dot had been successful.
And for Herry it was once again a case of purchasing a greyhound out of a ready to race sale where he pretty well knew what he was letting himself in for and where once again he has been able to have a bit of fun along the way.