WINCHELSEA trainer David Graham, in Mount Gambier last Friday with a team of greyhounds for the time-graded meeting at Tara Raceway, was on fire – literally.
After experiencing some mechanical difficulties during the five-hour trip, Graham’s car finally ended up catching alight on the outskirts of the town near the Borderline Speedway.
“It was certainly an eventful trip over,” Graham said later.
“And I have to thank the people at the speedway who helped out.
“Also, Mount Moriac trainer Kevin Ward who picked up the dogs and got them to the track where fellow trainers were only too happy to assist, thus ensuring we made the kennelling time.”
It took until only race two, the Metal Worx Maiden Stake over 400 metres, for him to bring up his first SA winner when the beautifully bred Fascinate Queen led all the way to defeat Swoosie and Simply Flash in 24.07 seconds.
Owned by prominent NSW breeder-trainer Noelene Holloway, Fascinate Queen is by Fabregas out of Fascinate Marina, the 2016 Wentworth Park Brood Bitch of the Year and top three in 2014 and 2015.
Friday’s winner is a half-sister to Magic Spring – by Spring Gun – winner of the 2016 Group 1 National Derby at Wentworth Park, along with 24 other races and close to $200,000 in prizemoney.
Graham, who returned to the sport 12 months ago after a long break, runs Greyhound Syndicates Australia which currently has 24 greyhounds syndicated.
“We provide professional syndication of racing greyhounds that are both successful and fun,” he said.
“Syndicate members from all around Australia are taking advantage of our $100 for a 1pc share and no more to pay.
“Our aim will breed with Group 1 winners or litter sisters to Group 1 winners – one of our latest litters being by the Irish sire Killohan Phanter out of Zion, a litter sister to Magic Spring.”
Meanwhile, later on Friday, Kevin Ward was also successful when Kathy’s Lady – one of four winners on the day for high-profile sire Fabregas – led all the way, eventually running out a five-and-a-half length winner in the 400-metre South Eastern Hotel Stake in 23.61 seconds.
Family does well
IT was a family affair all round when litter brothers Well Done Woody and Andrew’s Gift ran the quinella in Friday’s opening race, the Laser Electrical Maiden Stake over 512 metres.
The winner is raced by Ben Price while sister his Sarah owns the runner-up, with their father Tracie training the two March 2016 dogs out at Compton.
Well Done Woody came into the race not having run a place at his only six starts, but after a quick getaway from box seven he never looked like being beaten, eventually defeating Andrew’s Gift, who worked home well by five-and-a-half lengths in a pretty handy maiden time of 30.16 seconds.
The brothers are by the Irish sire Paradise Madison, a son of the Australian bred Head Bound (Head Honcho x Sobbing Sal) and Paradise Alanna, while their dam is eight-race winner Black Traminer, a daughter of a US Southland Derby winner in Hondo Black.
Paradise Madison, rated as the fastest greyhound over 525 yards in Ireland, has a handful of litters in Australia.
Well Done Woody and Andrew’s Gift found their way down to the South East in January this year via NSW breeder Andrew Varasdi, who believed the pair would be well-placed with Price after his previous success with half-sister Banjo Queen.
It was a good start for Price, who made it a double for the day a couple of races later in the 400-metre Winmore Greyhound Kennels Maiden with Another Scenario, an all-the-way winner at her second start in 23.50 seconds.
By the time Sunday’s last race had been run, the current leading local trainer had accumulated seven winners for the weekend – Teddy La Moment, Penny La Moment, Bekim Lucy’s, Gangster Of Love and Hopalong adding to Friday’s double.
Kicking off Sunday’s five-win day in wet and windy conditions was Teddy La Moment, another one having only his second start, impressing with a 10-and-a-half length win in the Winmore Greyhound Kennels Maiden in 23.56 seconds.
Penny La Moment, a daughter of Nolen x Penny La Plume and a litter sister to Teddy La Moment, led all the way in the Greg Martlew Autos Stake over 400 metres, while Bekim Lucy’s, after being forced very wide on the second turn, made up many lengths to run down kennel mate Goldie’s Run to win the Greyhound-Data.com Mixed Stake over 600 metres by three-quarters of a length in 35.89 seconds.
Penny La Moment and Bekim Lucy’s are part-owned by local greyhound stalwart Michael Robinson who races the former in partnership with Kerry Hawker and seven-race 600 metre winner Bekim Lucy’s, a daughter of Bekim Bale x Lucy’s Moment, with Willie Vossen.
Gangster Of Love added to his outstanding record from box one when leading all the way for a five-and-a-quarter length win in the 400-metre winningformula.net.au Stake in a best-of-day 23.07 seconds
The Open 400 metre sprints are always keenly-contested affairs and Sunday’s The Produce Store Stake was no exception, with Hopalong just getting the nod over Oh No Beta and Scorpion in a terrific three-way go.
Price has now trained 35 winners at Tara Raceway this year while Portland trainer Nicole Stanley’s four for the weekend – Jan’s Star, Joshy Wink Wink, Verev and Sweet Spud – took her tally to 18.
