Purified, Top Cadillac and Mister Cadillac, currently well clear in the 2024 Mount Gambier Greyhound of the Year (GOTY) award, wrapped up a big day at Tara Raceway last Sunday when winning the final three races on the 12-event program.
And for the trainers involved – Jason Newman of Moorak and Edenhope-based Captain Abbott – it is a case of both chasing another Mount Gambier GOTY win.
In 2022 Newman was successful with Departure Gate, winner of the Mount Gambier Cup that year and GOTY with 70 points – 15 wins and five seconds. The year prior it was Abbott’s Another Pick who accumulated 72 points after winning 12 races and running nine seconds and six thirds.
In last Sunday’s final race, the Greg Martlew Autos Open Stake (512 metres), the Lena Dureikina owned and Newman trained Purified led early from box four before settling in third spot down the back.
The daughter of Fernando Bale x Mepunga Spectre then finished strongly in the home straight to defeat Sweet Secret by a half head in 30.03 seconds and take her GOTY tally for this year to 43 points (8, 5, 3).
With GOTY points awarded only on Category 2 (Sunday) meetings, distances over 305 metres and 400 metres are scored on a 3, 2, 1 basis. An extra point is allocated to the winners of the longer races.
Top Cadillac, a half-brother to the legendary SA stayer Sir Truculent, moved into second spot on the GOTY list with 42 points after a dashing win for Abbott in the Todd’s Photographics Mixed Stake (600 m).
In front at the winning post the first around, from then on the son of Feral Franky and Establish was never headed when running out a 4¾ length winner over Warringah Bale in 34.78 seconds.
The win gave Top Cadillac – purchased at 10 months of age for $8000 – 42 GOTY points, made up of nine wins, two seconds and two thirds.
And Mister Cadillac, also owned and trained by Abbott, led all the way in the Klaassens Contractors Open Stake (400 m) for a 3½ length win over Shore’s Pick in a smart 22.85 seconds.
The win was the son of Magical Bale and Koa Lass’s fourth this year. The wins complement his 13 seconds and three thirds and now have him sitting in third spot on 41 GOTY points.
Meanwhile, Newman’s winning day commenced back in race four with Hotfoot Swizzle who scored an easy five length win in the Federal Hotel (1-3 wins) Stake, the second heat of a grade six series over 512 metres.
The daughter of My Redeemer and Skywise is raced in partnership with Michael Phillips and David Blench and has now won four races – two of those in September.
Two races later, in the Commercial Hotel Stake (400 m), Our Damiro, raced in the same interests as Hotfoot Swizzle, led all the way for a 3½ length win over Harry Chana in 23.30 seconds.
The win was Our Damiro’s third from 41 starts and her first since February when she defeated kennelmate Zipping Shakira at Tara Raceway.
The brindle bitch is a daughter of Miss Splendamiro, Phillips describing her as a once in a lifetime bitch who raced on 66 occasions for 33 wins, 17 minor placings and prize money of more than $227,000.
Newman’s third win of the day was in the Metal Worx Stake (400 m) with Gypsy Chick who is raced by Mount Gambier-based Shane Flink, winner of this year’s Connie Miller club award.
Chasing her first win at Tara Raceway since the end of July, Gypsy Chick led all the way from box six and held on to defeat Sit And Wait by 1¼ lengths in 23.23 seconds much to the delight of his exuberant owner.
Gypsy Chick, a daughter of Bernardo and Spirited Bingle, was purchased as a three-month-old pup by Flink from Portland breeder Robert Halliday who also reared the black bitch.
So, with Newman then winning the last race with Purified and bringing up four winners and Abbott’s Top Cadillac looking to be in great shape, attention now turns to the SA Country Cup heat/s (512 m) which will be run on Sunday, September 29.
A maximum of two $4000 heats will be run with the two winners representing Mount Gambier in the $8500 final at Angle Park on Adelaide Cup night on Friday, October 11. If only one heat is run, first and second placegetters will make the trip to Angle Park.