Victorian chasers Redshift Uniform and Here To Burn boosted the numbers in Sunday’s Rocks Tavern Mixed Stake over 732 metres at Tara Raceway.
Originally, the race for grades 4, 5 and 6 greyhounds had attracted seven nominations – a number rarely seen over the distance at Mount Gambier.
Come Sunday and six runners remained in the chase for the $1700 first prize. Still a good result for the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club which on the odd occasion has run distance races with only two runners in order to keep faith with owners and trainers of stayers.
The Blake brothers brought over Redshift Uniform for Thomastown trainer Michael Katsiris who had been finding the going a bit tough at Sandown Park, The Meadows and Shepparton with the daughter of Barcia Bale and Taylor Made Star.
Tara Raceway regular Lorraine Goodwin, of Hamilton, opted for Mount Gambier on the back of a first-up distance run with Here To Burn over 730 metres at The Meadows late last month.
And Here To Burn, a son of SH Avatar and Spring To Wyn, gave plenty of cheek before going down by 2¾ lengths to Redshift Uniform in 43.85 seconds.
From a local distance racing point of view the good news now is that Redshift Uniform will remain in the district. She will be trained at Moorak by Jason Newman who has won his fair share of staying races this year with current Mount Gambier Greyhound of the Year leader Wind Burn Flash.
Quick Cadillac, who looks every bit as big as his current registered weight of 35.5 kilograms, made an impressive debut when leading all the way in the Commercial Hotel Maiden Stake (305 m).
Bred, owned and trained at Edenhope by Captain Abbott, the black dog defeated Myola Thunder by 3½ lengths in a time of 18.07 seconds.
Quick Cadillac is by Premier Fantasy out of Pamela Rocks who is currently the leading local dam with 23 wins.
The win was also an early birthday present for Abbott who turned 80 on Monday.
Compton trainer Tracie Price fronted up with a couple of interesting litter sisters – Compton Wink and Compton Special – both first starters in the Hyland Fox Maiden Stake (400 m).
By Aussie Infrared out of 16-race winner Banjo Lass, Compton Wink suffers from limited vision in one eye while Compton Special is deaf.
But Compton Wink had no trouble in virtually leading all the way for a 5¾ length win over Aston Jerry in 23.50 seconds. Compton Special finished third.
Price’s wife, Karen, said Compton Special, even though she can’t hear the lure, generally handles the start pretty well by moving straight to the front of the boxes.
For Koroit couple, Vicki and Garry Anders, the win of Mr. Deeds in the Exchange Printers Mixed Stake (400 m) was their first Tara Raceway success since Daisy Deeds and Freddy Deeds in early May.
By Cosmic Rumble out of Mepunga Tiara, Mr. Deeds, a rising four-year-old, led all the way from box one for a five length win over Rough In Vegas in a quick 22.93 seconds.
Mr. Deeds is the dog that back in February last year was sent to Melbourne to race. And after a Sandown Park Sunday win and numerous placings he quickly found himself back in Koroit when looking to have a Sandown 595 metre race stitched up before pulling up in the home straight.
Garry Anders is pleased to report that there have been no such indiscretions since.
Looking to ensure a start with his 18-race winner Mary Bridget, Worrolong trainer Steve Bartholomew gave the grader three options – 400 m, 512 m and 600 m – in that order.
As it turned out, the daughter of Flying Stanley and Galactic Cat lined up over the 600 metre journey for the first time in her 39-start career. Not that it presented too many problems after she led all the way.
On the line Mary Bridget still had 4¼ lengths to spare over Sugar Freak in the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 Stake when running the tidy time of 35.18 seconds.
With a drag lure initiative to be introduced for straight track racing at Richmond in NSW, it’s interesting to note that the club is also proceeding with the installation of a rail-mounted drag lure on its slipping track.
Currently, Tara Raceway’s track men, Tim Manterfield and Mark Hall, are working on a drag lure for the local club’s slipping track.
Granted, not quite as sophisticated as the one at Richmond – it will be a hand-operated bicycle wheel system – but sure to be more than adequate.
And well done to Tim and Mark for their efforts in adding further to the track’s training facilities.
