Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club

Tara Raceway, Lake Terrace East, Mount Gambier, SA

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Smokin’ Ichiban still hobby trainer’s best greyhound

Hobby trainer Michael Wallworth, for a fourth time this year made the trip over from New Gisborne to Mount Gambier last Sunday with his staying greyhound Vega Black.

And while Vega Black, from 61 starts, boasts a more than handy record of 12 wins and 13 minor placings for close to $42,000 in prize money, he still rates his first-ever greyhound purchased as his best.

Michael Wallworth and Ronnie Comben pictured with Vega Black after his win in the Cadillac Racing Free For All (732 m).

Smokin’ Ichiban, a white and black son of Big Daddy Cool and Magical, was the dog in question. Whelped in July 2007, he died only recently at 17 years of age after having been purchased as a six-month-old pup by Wallworth.

“Yes, he was my first dog and still my best,” Wallworth said. “He won 11 races on Victorian tracks and also scored a Group 2 win over 747 metres at Wakanui in New Zealand.”

Vega Black, a son of Cosmic Rumble and Black Eva, and his litter sister Extravagance, a winner of nine races and just under $41,000 in prize money, were also purchased by Wallworth as pups.

Vega Black’s past three starts at Tara Raceway have all been over the 732 metre journey with the 35 kilogram black dog defeating Redshift Uniform by a length in 43.69 seconds on July 14 prior to running second to Clint Trengove’s Crypto Monelli on August 4.

Interestingly, Trengove had trained Vega Black for Wallworth between April 2022 and January 2023.

Last Sunday saw Vega Black and the long odds-on Redshift Uniform clashing again in the Cadillac Racing Free For All. And once again it was the former who virtually led all the way to defeat the Jason Newman trained favourite by 3¾ lengths in 43.85 seconds.

At Tara Raceway for the first time was long-time Lara trainer Craig Treherne, lining up with Aston Typhoon in the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 Maiden Stake (400 m) but better known for greyhounds such as Highly Explosive and Echelon.

Chasing his first win in nine starts, the brindle dog came out running from box two and never looked like losing when running out a seven length winner over kennelmate Aston Geiko in a smart 23.14 seconds.

“I certainly didn’t expect him to jump like that,” Treherne said. “But I’d been looking for a track with a bit of galloping room and with the smaller fields today it worked out pretty well.”

Highly Explosive, a daughter of Barcia Bale and Explosive Madame, raced on only 30 occasions for 10 outstanding wins at Sandown Park, Geelong, Warrnambool, Sale, Horsham and Maitland.

Owned by Luke Miller, Highly Explosive whelped two litters last year by Fernando Bale and Bernardo.

Echelon, a beautifully bred son of Mogambo and Off Springer, was a Group 2 winner over 720 metres at Wentworth Park in 2011 and also placed on three other occasions in Group events.

Tarpeena owner-trainer Malcolm Keenan wrapped up a successful week with Lektra Remi – a winner up the straight on the Tuesday at Murray Bridge over 300 metres in a best of day 16.37 seconds prior to another win at Tara Raceway last Sunday.

Handler Shane Flink (left) and Malcolm Keenan with Lektra Remi, an all the way winner of the Gordon Refrigeration Stake (512 m).

The white and black daughter of Fernando Bale and Lektra Perry led all the way in the Gordon Refrigeration Stake (512 m), holding out a strong finishing Saint Raine to win by a neck in 30.21 seconds.

A give away greyhound, Lektra Remi has now raced on 10 occasions for Keenan for five wins and five minor placings.

Millicent trainer Dave Green also enjoyed another good week when Sher Zany, after settling in second spot in the Greyhounds As Pets Stake (595 m) at Angle Park last Thursday night, finished strongly for a 2¼ length win over Apilla in 34.75 seconds.

And at Tara Raceway last Sunday, the Green-trained Paw Some Storm brought up her 24th win when leading all the way in the Carlin & Gazzard Mixed Stake (400 m) and defeating Mister Cadillac by 1¼ lengths in 23.11 seconds.

A member of the successful Bernardo x Dusseldorp litter, Paw Some Storm is owned by Green and Jason Newman of Moorak who also race Sher Zany.

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