The Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club is one of a few Australian tracks to continue to operate with a finish-on-lure (FOL) system.
What this means is that the dogs finish their race on a stationary lure as opposed to the conventional system whereby they are diverted into a pen of deep sand with the lure then sped away into the distance.
What it also means is that the dogs are able to complete their mission. So why wouldn’t they chase better? As far as the greyhounds are concerned, it could be said that it makes for a fun afternoon.
North Bendigo trainer Aaron Blake had better luck at Tara Raceway yesterday. Better luck, that is, than the last time he made the trip to Mount Gambier on Anzac Day last year only to find the meeting cancelled after the veterinary surgeon had been indisposed.
The 30-year-old Blake, involved in the sport for half his life, had Adelong, a daughter of Fernando Bale and Bonnie Beauty, engaged in yesterday’s Progreyhoundtips.com Maiden Stake (512 metres).
With a last start second over 515 metres at Sandown Park, the 24½ kilogram blue bitch looked well placed to give Blake his first winner at Tara Raceway since Dancing Rose back on January 23, 2020.
And that’s how it panned out. Adelong, raced by Wally Heras’ Marpalu Syndicate, scored an effortless 6¾ length win over Menari Hugh. The time of 30.27 seconds held up pretty well given the conditions of the day.
The winner had been taken over by Blake, assistant curator at the Bendigo Greyhound Racing Club, after having copped a failing to chase suspension at Horsham early in the year.
“I said to Wally at the time that if the trainer ever wanted to move her on I wouldn’t mind having a go with her,” he said. “She came into my kennels in March and given her history I had been keen to get over here with her behind the finish on lure.”
Speaking after yesterday’s win, Blake said Adelong was probably the quickest dog he had trained.
“She’s trialled 29.66 seconds at Sandown Park and given her breeding I reckon she’ll probably run a bit further.”
The lure-focused Fort Kembla is obviously one of those dogs that doesn’t appreciate being diverted into a pen of deep sand and then seeing the lure sped away.
In fact, back in March he had escaped the catching pen at Bendigo with connections being issued a warning. Then, the following month, he did the same thing at Shepparton. He was then required to run a satisfactory trial and not escape the catching pen.
Subsequently, Fort Kembla found his way down to Mount Gambier and Tarpeena trainer Dita Mitchell who offered the dog as a giveaway to kennel clients, the locally-based Rise N Shine Syndicate.
The son of Banjo Boy and Angel Ice went into yesterday’s Carlin & Gazzard MG Stake (400 m) on the back of a first and a third at his only two local starts.
And he brought up his first Category 2 win at Tara Raceway when leading all the way to defeat Pirate Paddy by 2½ lengths in a time of 23.43 seconds – much to the delight of on-course syndicate members John Podgorski, Nathan Holmes and Darren Gray.
“What a terrific result,” Podgorski said after the win. “We’re absolutely stoked to have won a race at a Sunday meeting with him.”
He said the syndicate had started off in a blaze of glory but had since encountered some tough times prior to Mitchell generously involving them in the ownership of Fort Kembla.
Eternal Ten, a son of Fernando Bale and Panda Bale and whelped locally at David Peckham’s Bourne Kennels, has found himself back in South East, this time with leading local trainer Tracie Price.
The relocation follows an unsatisfactory performance and a marring offence in NSW prior to arriving at Compton last month.
The white and brindle dog lined up in yesterday’s Produce Store Stake (400 m), the second heat of a grade five series, after having recently run a quick 22.66 seconds satisfactory trial at Tara Raceway.
Well boxed in the one, Eternal Ten led all the way when defeating Daph’s Extreme by 7½ lengths in a best of day 22.87 seconds.
And Felonious Gru, after picking up a couple failing to chase tickets in Victoria, yesterday brought up his third successive Tara Raceway win for his Melbourne Cup winning trainer Colin Kelly of Warrnambool.
The son of SH Avatar and Shades Of Lippy led all the way from box three in the Winning Post Supplies 1-3 wins grade six final (400 m), defeating Lektra Rodney by a half length in 23.41 seconds.