Blue Nitrogen’s win in last Thursday’s Greg Martlew Autos TG1-4W Stake (400 metres) at Mount Gambier was the son of Fernando Bale and Palace Lady’s first since winning at Geelong back in July 2024.
Having his first run on the track, the blue dog was quickly into stride after only an ordinary start from box eight before running out a 5¼ length winner over Rough Girl Nosey.
For Warracknabeal trainer Katrina Spicer, Blue Nitrogen was her first winner with her first dog after having taken over his training only last month.
“I have to say, the tears were flowing after the win and I was really emotional given that he had spent more than half of last year on the sidelines due to injury and hadn’t won a race in more than 18 months,” she said.
Spicer’s first involvement with greyhounds came about two years ago when she took on part-time employment at the Horsham Greyhound Racing Club.
She also is employed on a part-time basis at Taylor’s Warracknabeal Palace Hotel with Hayden Taylor’s association with Blue Nitrogen going back to 2011 and his great grand-dam Lady Latino, followed by grand-dam Lady Tron and dam Palace Lady.
For Spicer, her first winner was also the quicker of the Fast Forward 1-4 wins heats, running a time of 23.55 seconds. He’s now through to the six-dog final which will carry $1515 in prize money at this week’s Thursday time-graded meeting.
The final should be an interesting race given the three placegetters in the second heat – Dimora Bernie, Compton Stella and Major Queen – qualified in times ranging from 23.60 seconds to 23.69 seconds.
Meanwhile, as it turned out, Outer Harbour waterside worker Nathan Goodenough’s long trip down from Queenstown to Mount Gambier with only one dog – Zipping Migaloo – went pretty smoothly.
And it could probably be said that Adelaide-based Goodenough may well be one of the last of the backyard brigade when it comes to suburban trainers and greyhounds.
Lining up from box eight in the Cadillac Racing TG1-4W Stake (305 m), Zippping Migaloo, a son of Mantra Lad and Shoshe, never looked in any danger of defeat when leading all the way for a 10½ length win over Jazzy Boo in 17.58 seconds.
The win had been Goodenough’s first at Tara Raceway since July 2024 when he had ventured down with Oregon Favors, the son of Need My Moneynow and La La Oregon defeating Bernardo’s Boy over 512 metres in 30.16 seconds.
“I purchased Zipping Migaloo – a five-start maiden – from Victorian trainer Dallan Klemke back in October last year. And he’s done pretty well having now won five races at Angle Park, Gawler, Murray Bridge and Mount Gambier.
“At the moment he’s the only dog I have racing so just for a change I thought I’d make a trip down here for a Thursday meeting when the fields are restricted to six dogs and give him a try at a new track,” Goodenough said.
“Another thing that attracted me to Zipping Migaloo, from a purchase point of view, was that he is a white dog. And with a lot of greyhounds sooner or later looking for a ‘forever home’ their colour often plays a role in their future placement.”
Also, co-trainers Tim Richards and Tanya Bialek of Meningie, and Edenhope-based Captain Abbott and Kerry Hawker contributed to the day with a total of four winners.
Richards was successful with Pressure Point in the Klaassens Contractors Maiden Stake (305 m) while Bialek’s Bulsara, a 100-plus veteran, brought up his 16th win in the Federal Hotel Stake (305 m).
Mister Cadillac brought up his 27th win for Abbott in the Carlin & Gazzard Stake (400 m) and Hawker’s Cadillac Lloyd scored a 1½ length win over Abbott’s Cadillac Girl in 17.95 seconds.