WHILE leading local greyhound trainer Tracie Price’s weekly trips to Angle Park look set to continue after Andrew’s Gift, Cryer’s Plugger and Bekim Lucy’s all ran second at the city track earlier this week, there is also plenty happening on the home front out at Compton.
The kennel’s extensive breeding program continues unabated with the latest litter whelped being four dogs and four bitches by Peter Rocket out of the beautifully bred city-winning Headline.
By Barcia Bale out of Raya Riot, Headline was a winner of 16 races in Victoria over distances ranging from 440 metres to 660 metres, Price no doubt hoping for the match-up to come up with something similar to that of top stayer Rockoon, a white and black dog by Peter Rocket x Raya Riot.
This litter is the third to be whelped at the kennels this year and follows Spring Gun x Grimsby Girl and Dyna Double One x Miss Freelove litters of seven and six respectively.
Grimsby Girl, a daughter of Kinloch Brae x Oh Cee Ya, was a finalist in the 2016 Mount Gambier Cup won by Mojito Mayhem while Miss Freelove, whose racing career was severely curtailed through injury, is by Smooth Fancy out of the prolific producer Casey’s Angel.
Price also has his sights set on the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club’s annual Winter Classic, run over 512 metres in August for dogs and bitches whelped on or after July 1, 2016, with youngsters from well-bred litters by Knocka Norris x Who’s Doing What, Nitro Burst x Oh Cee Ya and Cosmic Rumble x Cee Me Burst (winner of the 2015 Winter Classic).
Meanwhile, Price said this week Cryer’s Plugger was likely to be set for the Shane McQueen Feature, heats of which will be run at Angle Park on Thursday, May 31.
For the best greyhounds nominated, the $8565 McQueen final will be run on Thursday, June 7.
Owned at Apsley by Margaret Cryer, Cryer’s Plugger chased top Adelaide performer High Eden Snow throughout on Monday night over 600 metres and was doing his best work at the finish when going down by only one-and-three-quarter lengths in 34.95 seconds.
In the meantime, Cryer’s Plugger and Bekim Lucy’s will once again clash at Angle Park on Monday night over 600 metres in a race the pair looks well placed in.
Panther progress
SOUTH East owned and trained Galactic Panther advanced to the semi-finals of the 515-metre Group 3 Howard Ashton Classic when running third in the first heat at Angle Park on Wednesday afternoon.
Raced by Moorak owner Robert Chuck and trained at Worrolong by Steve Bartholomew, the son of Milldean Panther and Galactic Rumball was beaten six-and-a-half lengths by boom youngster Victa Louise who clocked the quickest of the four heats when running 29.72 seconds.
Victa Louise, a $1.15 favourite, was the only heat winner to break the 30 second barrier, although $18 second placegetter Springvale Choix surprised when running her to one-and-a-half lengths and clocking 29.82 seconds.
And after Fabwik ran 30.01 seconds to win the final heat, it was Galactic Panther who was the fourth fastest of the qualifiers with a time of 30.18 seconds.
Breemelia Swift, who ran unplaced behind Galactic Panther earlier this year in the Peter Rocket Summer Classic final at Tara Raceway, caused a boilover when winning heat three at $31 in 30.24 seconds.
Springvale Alysa, the other locally owned and trained classic contender, disappointed for Kongorong trainer John Little when failing to qualify in the second heat, won by Tal Lee in 30.49 seconds.
Semi-finals of the SA-bred paid up series will be run at Angle Park on Thursday, May 24 with the $37,500 final on Thursday, May 31, coinciding with heats of the McQueen feature.
Card a lovely gesture
THE Finn family – Kevin, Lorraine and daughter Marita Byron – were over from Warrnambool for last Sunday’s Tara Raceway meeting with Destini Montana.
And Lorraine Finn also brought with her a giant get well card, already signed by Warrnambool participants and, once signed by their local counterparts, to be forwarded to Phil Lenehan, a popular supporter of both tracks.
With Lenehan in hospital in Melbourne after recently being involved in a car accident, Mrs Finn’s get well card was a lovely gesture from a lovely lady.
