For Edenhope owner-trainer Cap Abbott, the racing debut of his son of Feral Franky and Establish almost 12 months ago at Tara Raceway didn’t go quite to plan.
An $8000 purchase from NSW when the black pup was 10 months old, the subsequently-named Top Cadillac’s first start saw him find plenty of trouble in running and finish down the line.
But a week later he opened his winning account over 512 metres. And with the exception of a few hiccups early this year, Top Cadillac hasn’t done too much wrong – his record now standing at 28 starts for 13 wins and five minor placings.
His dam, Establish, won five races ranging from 280 metres at Wentworth Park to 525 metres at Wagga and while going back a fair way does include NSW Greyhound Hall of Famer Osti Too in her pedigree.
However, in more recent times, Establish, from a mating to Worm Burner, produced champion SA stayer Sir Truculent who won 48 races and more than $440,000 in prize money.
Last Sunday’s Tankman 600 Dual Challenge final over 600 metres was a spin-off from the Michelle Niele Memorial Dual Challenge which was won in 2021 by Golly Gumdrops (trained by Tracie Price), Departure Gate (Jason Newman) in 2022 and last year by Moonlight Kiss (Peter Franklin).
Sponsored this year by locally-based Allen and Kim Cram’s The Tankman, three 512 metre heats were conducted the previous week with little separating the winners on times – Hooked On Love 29.93, Top Cadillac 30.04 and Zombieland 30.05.
And in the final it was Phil Lenehan’s Lektra Tinsel who quickly took up the running from box eight while Top Cadillac settled in second spot before taking up the running turning for home. He then held out Hooked On Love for a three-quarter length win in a very quick 34.74 seconds.
Speaking after the Tankman final Abbott said he believed Top Cadillac to be his best dog since White Arrow.
“A daughter of Tinas Jo and Cape Arrow, she won 25 races at Sandown Park, The Meadows, Angle Park, Warrnambool, Horsham and Mount Gambier between 2009 and 2012.
“Now I’m hoping Top Cadillac might have inherited some of Sir Truculent’s staying prowess and that we can test him over an even longer journey.”
Abbott and partner Kerry Hawker – who also enjoyed a good day on the track with Cadillac Ragtop and Nero Valentino – run Cadillac Kennels, the major sponsor of the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club.
Cadillac Ragtop found the front down the back in the Da’Leni Meats Mixed Stake (400 m) before running away to an effortless 5¾ length win over kennelmate Cadillac Star in a tidy 23.01 seconds.
And Nero Valentino, the 2023 Mount Gambier Greyhound of the Year, was back among the winners for the first time this year when running down Space Cadet in the home straight for a 17.72 seconds win in the Williams Crane Hire Masters Stake (305 m).
“That was his 120th start and his 27th win,” a delighted Hawker said. “All being well, he’ll now race in Sunday’s Commersh Masters over 305 metres.”