It was a day of doubles last Sunday for Victorian and local trainers Garry Anders, David Peckham, Tracie Price and Catherine Roberts who combined to win eight of the 12 races on the Tara Raceway card.
For long-time greyhound trainer Garry Anders of Koroit his double with litter brothers Chester Deeds and Ollie Deeds was his third at the Mount Gambier track this year and took his overall tally of local wins to 14.
By Sennachie out of Beaut Deeds, Chester Deeds kicked off Anders’ winning day when leading all the way from box one in the Commercial Hotel Mixed Stake (400 metres). On the line he had a length to spare over kennelmate Mr. Deeds in a time of 23.24 seconds.
Later in the day, Ollie Deeds also led all the way from box one in the Carlin & Gazzard Stake (400 m) when defeating Saint Tay, trained by fellow Koroit trainer Peter Byrne, by 1¼ lengths in 23.14 seconds.
The Trainers’ Challenge, a non-penalty 1-4 wins series over 400 metres for greyhounds trained by past and present Tara Tipsters, turned out to be a keenly contested affair.
Aston Blend, trained at Terang by Christian Roberts, and Bourne Franky, owned and trained at Allendale East by David Peckham, shared the lead throughout. But in the run home it was the latter that got up to score by a half head in 23.32 seconds.
By Feral Franky out of Sweet On Me, the winner is a brother to the Peckham part-owned and trained Bourne Model who won the Winter Classic in August at Tara Raceway. Third place in the Challenge was filled by Bourne Sid, a half-brother to the winner and raced in the same interest.
And such was the competitiveness of the added money event, only 2¾ lengths separated the six-dog field on the line.
Aston Apatite, having her first start at the track for Peckham, brought up the trainer’s second win of the day in the Cadillac Racing Stake (400 m).
The daughter of Fernando Bale and Aston Crystal settled in second spot behind Eskimo Larry before taking the lead turning for home and running out a two length winner over Bob Deeds in 23.37 seconds.
Peckham said he was now looking to race Aston Apatite over more ground.
“Initially, she had a seasonal issue but she now seems to be pretty right,” he said. “Prior to coming down here she had won over 570 metres at Temora and in September ran second over 720 metres at Wentworth Park.
“She obviously can run over a bit of ground so hopefully we’ll be able to find a few suitable races for her in the not too distant future.”
Ben Price, standing in for his Compton-based father Tracie who is currently on holidays, was successful with Sean’s Matilda in the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 Stake (512 m) and in the following race with Wild Milly.
Sean’s Matilda was having her first 512 metre start after winning on debut last month at Tara Raceway over 400 metres prior to four handy short course runs at her home track, Gawler and Murray Bridge.
And she came out running from box eight to quickly take the lead over Aston Mai Tai before leading all the way for a length win in a smart 29.84 seconds.
She’s a daughter of Beast Unleashed and Minnie Banjo, Tara Raceway’s 400 metre record holder with a time of 22.42 seconds. So far, her first litter of two dogs and eight bitches, whelped in March 2023, has produced seven individual winners.
Wild Milly, following a win a fortnight ago in the Newman McDonnell Memorial, bounced back in the Produce Store Mixed Stake (512 m) when finishing strongly to defeat Lightning Pest by a length in 30.15 seconds.
Lektra Damian, a giveaway greyhound after winning a maiden in June at Tara Raceway, won his first race for Terang-based Catherine Roberts who trains the son of Feral Franky and Lektra Rainbow for her husband Mark.
The black dog settled in second spot behind Just Divine in the Winning Post Supplies Stake (400 m) before taking a rails run off the back and finishing strongly for a 2¼ length win over the early leader in a quick 22.95 seconds.
“I certainly didn’t see that coming,” said a surprised Mark Roberts in relation to the winning time.
And Lektra Tony landed his second consecutive win at Tara Raceway for Catherine and Mark Roberts when quickly finding the front in the Gordon Refrigeration Mixed Stake (400 m) before running out a 1¾ length winner over Aston Cayenne.