FOR Spring Ripper and Kolora Posie, impressive winners of the Trackside Meats Feature (512 metres) heats for grade five greyhounds, it was a case of both breaking a long run of outs at Tara Raceway last Sunday afternoon.
Even though Spring Ripper, a son of Spring Gun and Chilly Babe, had not won since the end of September at The Meadows, the brindle dog looked well placed from box one and was not missed by punters when jumping at $2.50.
And he always looked to have Cryer’s Jed’s measure as he chased that greyhound down the back before railing through approaching Captain’s Corner and powering away in the home straight for an emphatic six-and-a-half length win over Goldie’s Run and the early leader in a best-of-day 30.03 seconds.
Owned at Wagga by Matt Morris, Spring Ripper is trained at Portland by Brian Weis, the connections having combined earlier this year to win the Group Listed Mount Gambier Cup with Xtreme Caution.
Weis has now won five races with Spring Ripper, with his 512 metre maiden win actually coming close to 12 months ago when he defeated Kolora Posie by a length at Tara Raceway in 30.31 seconds.
By Bekim Bale out of Swift Blaze, Kolora Posie, who last won in October, was formerly raced by her Mortlake breeder Terry Payne who recently signed her over to Connie Miller of the Bourne Kennels at Allendale East.
Having her fourth run back after a lengthy break necessitated through seasonal issues and a kennel mishap, Kolora Posie led all the way from box three to defeat the Weis-trained Big Rough by five-and-a-quarter lengths in a personal best 30.05 seconds.
The win continued Miller’s good run this year, Chilly Kiss, a litter sister to Spring Ripper, having won four races, including The Tankman 600 at the cup carnival.
The unraced Swift Blaze has proven to be a handy producer for Payne, with Kolora Posie’s litter brother Barry Bomber having won 13 races and more than $41,000 in prizemoney, his past three wins being at The Meadows over 600 metres.
And an earlier mating with Bekim Bale produced the grand campaigner Old Jock, who won the 2016 Mount Gambier Greyhound of the Year award.
Also through to Sunday’s final, which should be an interesting race, are Turbo Road, Blazin’ Vicky and Big Lebowski.
Another quick middle distance win
HORSHAM greyhound Vectis Seyarda, a quick 35.18 seconds 600 metre winner at Tara Raceway last month when a $31 chance, turned in another top performance over the middle-distance last Sunday.
In career-best form, but once again friendless at $15, the four-year-old daughter of Deville and Maureen Return’s chased well backed favourite Solitary Lad for much of the journey, taking up the running off the back before hitting the line strongly for a five-and-a-quarter length win over Cryer’s Bob, with a further one-and-a-quarter lengths back to Solitary Lad, stepping up in distance for the first time.
The time for the Produce Store Mixed Stake was 34.90 seconds and that is quick – only a length outside McIvor Verna’s track record of 34.84 seconds – although it should be pointed out the race had been hand-timed.
Vectis Seyarda is owned by Judy O’Neill and Conrad Winfield and trained by the former, who still hopes to be able to find a 732 metre race at Tara Raceway for the black bitch.
In the meantime, Vectis Seyarda will return on Sunday to Tara Raceway where she will meet a smart 600 metre field, which includes former record holder Paraphernalia in the Produce Store Open.
Incidentally, the Peter Franklin trained McIvor Verna, after a three-month break, returned to racing last Sunday at Sandown Park where she worked home well in the finishing stages of a 595 metre grade five event to be beaten by two-and-three-quarter lengths.
Another four-year-old that continues to perform well is Cheyenne Black, raced by Tara Raceway regulars David and Valerie Brodhurst of Serviceton.
Lining up from box one in last Sunday’s Greg Martlew Autos Stake over 400 metres, Cheyenne Black was on the pace, taking over the running off the back and going on to an emphatic five-and-a-quarter length win over Brinza in 23.30 seconds.
The win was the second leg of a double for the Brodhursts, Swoosie successful earlier in the day in the 400-metre Winmore Greyhound Kennels Stake.
Swoosie was also part of a double for the couple last month when Two Jobs also won on the same day.
Cheyenne Black, a daughter of Cosmic Chief and Eva’s Flame who went around on 107 occasions, is fast approaching 100 race starts herself, having now won 15 races since relocating to Serviceton shortly after winning the 2015 GRSA/GOTBA Coursing Oaks at Virginia.
And Oh No Beta turned in a top performance in the South Eastern Hotel Open Stake over 400 metres when missing the start hopelessly from box eight before quickly rounding up the field and running out a one-and-a-quarter length winner in 23.49 seconds.
The son of Lochinvar Marlow x Sometimes Speedy has now won 14 races at the track and distance for Portland trainer Nicole Stanley, with last Sunday’s win taking him one point clear of Chilly Kiss in the Mount Gambier Greyhound of the Year.
