LIMESTONE Coast owners Kerry Hawker and Michael Robinson’s good run at Tara Raceway continued on Sunday when they combined with the Tracie Price trained Penny La Moment who showed considerable improvement to win the Laser Electrical Maiden Stake over 400 metres in a quick 23.17 seconds.
Having her fourth start, the July 2016 daughter of Nolen x Penny La Plume led all the way from box five, eventually holding out kennelmate Andrew’s Gift – looking close to his first win – to win by a half length.
Hawker was successful at the previous meeting with Banjo Queen, who she races with husband John, while Robinson, a former long-time Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club steward and life member, also owns last week’s 600 metre winner Bekim Lucy’s in partnership with Willie Vossen.
And the Price-trained Bekim Lucy’s generated more interest into the staying ranks when running Cryer’s Plugger to a neck in the 732-metre Winmore Greyhound Kennels Stake.
The win was Cryer’s Plugger’s first since October 8 when he won over 512 metres at Tara Raceway in a fast 29.64 seconds while his distance time of 43.64 seconds on Sunday was the quickest since Nellie Noodles’ record run of 43.45 seconds in March 2011.
And Bekim Lucy’s 43.67 seconds is the third-fastest run at the track.
Penny La Moment kicked off another big day for the Compton-based Price who ended the 12-race program with yet another four winners, and took his tally since January 1 to 25, after Swift Limes, Goldie’s Run and Baz’s Moment were also successful.
Swift Limes, who had not won over the 512 metre distance since last June, finished powerfully to defeat the promising Lektra Viki by a half length in the Trackside Meats Stake in a personal best time of 30.00 seconds.
Goldie’s Run, last a winner back in November, led all the way in the 600-metre Williams Crane Hire Stake, defeating Star Project, who showed considerable improvement for Garry Marshman on his first-up February 23 middle-distance effort.
And Baz’s Moment made short work of the 400-metre South Eastern Hotel Open Stake when leading all the way to defeat Rumbling Moment by three-and-a-quarter lengths in 23.18 seconds.
Interestingly, 400 metre time honours for the day belonged to $23 chance Dimora Bekim who ran 23.13 seconds when defeating his kennelmate Mr Perfect, also a $23 chance, in the Rock’s Retreat Stake – a result that threw plenty of value into the exotics.
A litter brother to Bekim Lucy’s, Dimora Bekim is trained by Charlton-based Kevin Ashton, a Tara Raceway regular and also a regular when it comes to serving up longshots.
In Ashton’s kennels since November, Dimora Bekim broke a long run of outs, the giveaway greyhound’s last win in May last year.
Dyna Beryl breaks through
WELL-BRED greyhound Dyna Beryl broke through for her first SA win at Sunday’s Tara Raceway meeting and in doing so presented long-time Serviceton trainer David Brodhurst with his first success this year.
A minor placegetter at the local track at her past four starts, the black bitch put the writing on the wall for a Tara Raceway win after running Lektra Lucy – a winner again at the weekend when defeating Dynamite Danger – to one-and-three-quarter lengths over 512 metres on February 18.
And in Sunday’s 512-metre Metal Worx Stake, Dyna Beryl, after being fairly away from box four, worked into a handy spot mid-race before taking over off the back and eventually running out a two-and-a-quarter length winner over Dimora Flash in 30.39 seconds.
Whelped in December 2015, Dyna Beryl is by Dyna Villa out of the US bred 38-race winner Really Gonnarock who is a daughter of Afleet Alex and Xtreme Hustler.
She was advertised on Greyhound-Data late last year after having won two races at Bendigo and Ballarat, Brodhurst picking her up for $3000 before offering a share to Bordertown meat worker Geoff Mann.
“Geoff had previously raced two dogs without success so it probably was not all that surprising that he was a bit reluctant to part with $1500 for a half-share,” Brodhurst said.
“So I gave him the option of having a look at her for four runs before making a decision.
“He then took up the option with the result being that Sunday’s win gave him what he had been striving for – a photograph to hang on the wall.”
Cup carnival fever hits Tara Raceway
THE Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club’s annual Mount Gambier Cup carnival will start on Friday with heats of supporting events – the Produce Store Maiden over 512 metres, the Formula 400 Open over 400 metre and The Tankman Grade 5 over 600 metres.
On Saturday evening the traditional Calcutta will be held at Tara Raceway.
Ensuring the night runs smoothly will be Kevin “KD” Douglas while Chris Manser will auction the Mount Gambier Cup runners, heats of which will be on the following day.
Buffet style meals – roast beef, pork and chicken – with roast potatoes and a selection of sides and desserts will be available from 6pm to 7.30pm.
For bookings and further information phone Tim Holmes on 0400 060 435.
