Saturday, September 14, 2019
For the Trengove family training team of Clint, Shelley and Harrison it was the first time they’d raced greyhounds at Tara Raceway – Clint and his 18-year-old son Harrison making the 5½-hour trip down from Lewiston with a trailer-load of 12 dogs for last Thursday’s time-graded meeting.
The day started well, and just kept on getting better, Stitch ‘Em Raids leading all the way from box eight in the first race, The Border Watch Maiden Stake (400 metres) to defeat his kennelmate Stitch ‘Em Billy by a neck in 23.86 seconds.
By Oaks Road out of Coolabah Jet, a winner of 19 races and $66,000 in stakemoney, the SA-bred Stitch ‘Em Raids, owned and trained by Shelley Trengove, also picked up a $1000 breeder’s bonus for connections.
Several races later, Clint Trengove chipped in when Stitch ‘Em Frank – purchased as a pup – led all the way in the Greg Martlew Stake (400 m), the son of Barcia Bale and the US-bred Oya Nine Wonwon defeating Trapezius by 3½ lengths in 23.77 seconds.
Stitch ‘Em Panda, by Taylors Sky x All You Can and another one purchased as a pup, this time from Williamstown breeder Ray Fewings, led all the way in the following race, the JB Irrigation Stake (512 m), defeating Mount Duke by four lengths in 30.21 seconds for Shelley Trengove.
Then it was time for young Harrison to get among the action, Trickeration well supported to win the Winmore Greyhound Kennels Stake (512 m) even though all his winning form had been over the short course.
Joining the Trengove kennels after having won six races, the son of El Grand Senor x Honky Tonk Doll found the front early but was headed off by third-starter Rotate down the back before coming again in the home straight to win by a half length in 30.27 seconds.
The winners continued for the Trengove family, Dyna Alice then taking the lead down the back straight and holding off a fast finishing Big Casey in the Swallow Drive Meats Stake (512 m) to win by 1½ lengths in 30.18 seconds.
A $2000 pick-up, last Thursday’s win was the daughter of Bella Infrared x Dyna Cari’s fourth for Shelley.
And it was Clint who led in Team Trengove’s sixth winner for the day, Stitch ‘Em Bear – an older full brother to earlier winner Stitch ‘Em Panda – leading early in the Metal Worx Stake (400 m) before fighting off a home straight challenge from last start winner Dreamliner to win by a half-length in 23.44 seconds.
All told, the day ended with six wins, two seconds and two thirds from their 12 runners.
Involved with greyhounds for 10 years in Broken Hill, where he had been a pet food supplier, Clint Trengove decided 18 months ago to make the move with his family to SA .
This, of course, had also been the case many years prior when Doug Payne – subsequently inducted into the Australian Greyhound Racing Hall of Fame – had relocated to Meadows and then later Des Hockley to Lewiston. Both had been former leading trainers in Broken Hill.
“Currently we’re preparing to build a home on our 2½ acre block at Lewiston,” Trengove said. “I suppose you could say that it’s a case of us following our dreams.”
Their best dog is Stitch ‘Em Cilla, a daughter of Dyna Double One and 14-race winner Power Merc, purchased for $3000 at 12 weeks of age from Lewiston breeder Robin Harnas.
With the black bitch having now raced on 35 occasions in the space of just over 12 months, winning 11 races and running 12 minor placings for stakemoney of $41,000, it’s probably fair to say that the Trengove family is indeed living the dream.