An outstanding win by Ritza Wotton in last Sunday’s Cadillac Racing Mixed Stake (512 metres) now has Meningie trainer Tim Richards setting his sights on the forthcoming $10,000 SA Country Cup final at Angle Park.
It was back in October 2021 that the Richards owned and trained youngster He’s All Purpose upstaged his older rivals on the big stage at Angle Park when taking out the SA Country Cup final (530 metres) in 30.76 seconds.
The February 2020 son of Aston Dee Bee and Purpose Driven had qualified for the SA Country Cup final with an outstanding 29.69 seconds Mount Gambier heat win over 512 metres a fortnight prior when defeating Maximum Refusal.
Actually, it had been a pretty good year for Richards who had trained 34 winners at the track which included Justice For All in the Summer Classic and a 400 metres track record of 22.55 seconds with Almighty Stripe.
This year’s SA Country Cup final will be run on Adelaide Cup final night on Friday, October 10 and remains a six-dog field with two representatives each from Mount Gambier, Gawler and Murray Bridge.
The Mount Gambier Club is permitted to include non-SA trainers provided the interstate trainer has had starters at 10 Mount Gambier meetings in the previous 12 months. Also, the trainer must have trained the greyhound nominated for the previous two months.
Qualifying heats will be run at Murray Bridge (530 m) on Friday, September 19; Mount Gambier (512 m) on Sunday, September 28 and Gawler on Sunday, September 28 (night). Country Cup final prize money breakdown is $6000, $1650, $850, unplaced $300.
For Ritza Wotton, a blue brindle son of Fernando Bale and Ritza Gloria, it’s now been a case of the former NSW greyhound winning consecutive races at Tara Raceway, first over 400 metres and then impressively in last Sunday’s Cadillac Racing Mixed Stake (512 m).
Raced by Richards’ partner Tanya Bialek and Millicent-based Mark Dwyer, Ritza Wotton never looked like being beaten over the longer journey when leading all the way and running out a six length winner over kennel mate Silk Sonic in 29.86 seconds.
Then, in the following race, the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 Mixed Stake (600 m), Richards brought up a running double with 4½-year-old Time After Time who recorded her 27th win at start number 133.
In a race reduced to three runners after an early scratching and then a late one on race morning, the daughter of Barcia Bale and Molly Be Nimble led all the way from box one when defeating McIvor Olly by 1½ lengths in 35.56 seconds.
And taking a keen interest in the race had been Mortlake trainer Peter Franklin, fresh from a double the previous week, and who had a few runners of his own engaged in other races last Sunday.
But of particular interest to Franklin was McIvor Olly, these days owned and trained at Bendigo by Aaron Blake. By Feral Franky, the blue brindle dog is out of McIvor Verna – a daughter of Bella Infrared and Blonde Caviar and bred by Franklin back in May 2015.
In fact, McIvor Verna was initially trained by Franklin, the fawn bitch actually winning her maiden at Tara Raceway at her sixth start – in a Mixed 3/4/5 Stake over 600 metres when defeating Cryer’s Jack.
Then, a couple of months later, on June 18, 2017, she fronted up again at the Mount Gambier track over 600 metres and defeated Rowdy Richard by 12½ lengths in a track record time of 34.84 seconds.
It took a while – 12 months to be precise – but Pate Biscuit, owned and trained at Edenhope by Kerry Hawker, finally broke through for her third win in a 48-start career at odds of $71.
On the pace early, the black bitch found the front approaching the home turn and then held out kennel mate Close Shave in the Williams Crane Hire Stake (305 m) to win by 1½ lengths in 18.22 seconds.
Hawker said the daughter of Aussie Infrared and Marlise Bale had been off the scene for an extended period due to seasonal issues.
“While she had been racing consistently since returning, I certainly didn’t see this win coming.”
And PJ’s Pups 25-member syndicate, managed by Damien Blyth and trained at Cudgee by Gary Hunt, broke through for her first win in the Metal Worx Maiden Stake (305 m).
Having her ninth start, the daughter of Feral Franky and Pretty Mouse, chased Fabulous Fleur well into the home straight before gaining the upper hand for a one length win in 18.02 seconds.
