Sunday, May 26, 2019
It was on Friday, November 3, 2017 that Portland breeder-owner-trainer Andy Graham last landed a double at Tara Raceway – on that occasion with Cosmic Chief x Cee Anna Rose litter sisters Cee Hannah Rose and Cee Sunrise.
Fast forward to last Thursday’s time-graded meeting and Graham, after a short stint in Singapore to catch up with family, was back at the track with members of Cee Anna Rose’s next litter – by Magic Sprite.
Cee Sprite, the rank outsider at $16 in the South Eastern Hotel Stake (400 metres) showed plenty of pace from the inside box but was unable to hold out Villa Maldini who opened up a commanding break down the back.
And turning for home, Villa Maldini still looked to have the race in his keeping before Cee Sprite pushed through along the rails to grab a nose decision in 23.55 seconds.
A couple of races later, Cee Bay took the lead down the back straight in the Produce Store Stake (512 m), bringing up the litter double when running out a 4½ length winner in 30.23 seconds.
According to Graham, the story surrounding the breed actually goes back to Cee Anna Rose’s dam, Senni Wendy, a city-winning bitch that raced on 94 occasions for 17 wins and 24 minor placings.
“Back in 2008 I had suffered a heart attack and it was then that I decided I should probably undertake some form of exercise, hence the decision to become involved with greyhounds,” he said.
“I was of the opinion that to get winners I would probably have to breed them so I set about looking for a brood bitch to purchase.
“In the end I came up with Senni Wendy, a daughter of Magnamize and Senni Ace, who was advertised for sale as a brood bitch for $4500 after having whelped one litter.
“Ironically, that litter came up with only three winners but by the time they had raced I had already mated Senni Wendy with Bombastic Shiraz. Would I have gone ahead with the purchase had I known the outcome of the first mating? Maybe not.”
The Bombastic Shiraz litter produced the Victorian city-winning Cee Anna Rose who raced on only 18 occasions before succumbing to injury but winning six races and running nine minor placings. Even at that early stage she was earmarked as Senni Wendy’s breeding replacement.
Senni Wendy’s next litter, to Elite State, all told produced 52 winners with Street Life the pick after winning 17 races. By now Graham was up and running, despite having self-titled himself “the world’s worst greyhound trainer.”
Cee Anna Rose has one more litter to follow, whelped in January this year and by Sulzanti, a son of Magic Sprite.
And in what will be a break from the Senni Wendy line, Graham also has three youngsters by Nitro Burst out of 2015 Mount Gambier Cup winner Lots Of Yap approaching breaking-in age.