THERE was certainly a Penshurst presence in last Friday’s 512-metre Greg Martlew Autos Stake at Tara Raceway when Fascinated and Good Yarn, who had travelled over together, clashed in the time-graded event.
Trained by John Cameron (Camo), Fascinated did look well placed and ran accordingly, leading all the way to defeat the John Burow (Buzz) trained Good Yarn by 2½ lengths in 30.34 seconds and give the Penshurst pair the quinella.
By Hutmaker, the winner is out of the former smart bitch Spellbound who won 16 races at Tara Raceway as well as five at Sandown Park and another two at The Meadows.
Cameron purchased her as a pup from Portland breeder Cass Billington and 4½ years and 82 starts later the 24 kilogram black bitch is still racing well, having now won 12 races, including the Fashion D’Or Ladies Bracelet over 600 metres at Tara Raceway’s 2017 Christmas meeting.
Good Yarn, who has not won since scoring over 600 metres at Tara Raceway last September, put in a big run, coming from well back early to finish strongly, with racecaller Tim Edwards declaring the run “massive”.
Burow bred Good Yarn, a daughter of Cosmic Chief and his handy bitch Spin A Yarn who raced on 97 occasions for 13 wins including a Tara Raceway track record run over 400 metres.
Cameron was back at Tara Raceway on Sunday with Fascinated who ran third to McIvor Neville in the 512-metre Klaassens Contractors Stake, while Burow has opted to tackle The Border Watch Stake over 512 metres at today’s time-graded meeting.
And one can only imagine how the trip back to Penshurst on Friday afternoon would have played out.
Cameron confirmed the worst.
“Here we were travelling home, Buzz in the passenger seat, frequently quenching his thirst, empty cans rolling around everywhere and I’m having to put up with him telling me how good his dog is,” he said.
“You know, ‘my dog was unlucky, she should have won, the racecaller said it was a massive run’ and so on.
“Actually, by the time we got back to Penshurst he had just about convinced me that Good Yarn had won the race, so I did have to gently remind him of the result.”
However, apparently there was nothing really out of the ordinary here.
No, it seems it was just another typical Buzz and Camo road trip.
Wombwell continues good run with purchased pair
COLERAINE trainer Bob Wombwell has been involved with greyhounds for a long time.
Take a look at Glenburnie results for meetings as far back as 1980 and his name can be found alongside a maiden 289 metre winner called Dynamic Tarmel.
Wombwell trained 13 winners at Tara Raceway last year, but coming into Friday’s meeting was still chasing his first for 2018 at the local track, although he won at Warrnambool last month with Banjo Boss.
Banjo Boss, son of Banjo Boy x Rustic Reeta, was purchased with his brother Banjo Bonito at the end of last year from Andrew Varasdi, who also owns the sire.
Banjo Bonito, who won his maiden over 512 metres at Tara Raceway back in November, lined up from box two in the 400-metre Gordon Refrigeration Stake and appreciated the class drop when turning his form around with an effortless 9¼ length win in 23.51 seconds.
The win, which was Wombwell’s first Tara Raceway success since Outlaw Eddie in early December, continued the trainer’s good run with performed greyhounds that he has purchased.
“I bought the pair for $2000 and they have now paid for themselves,” he said.
“Previously, I raced another performed dog, the 38 kilogram Fear Helvetia who won eight races at Tara Raceway and Horsham and also paid his way.”
Tough task for Panther
LOCALLY owned and trained Galactic Panther faces a tough task tonight at Angle Park in the first semi-final of the Group 3 Howard Ashton final over 515 metres.
Owned by Robert Chuck and trained at Worrolong by Steve Bartholomew, Galactic Panther has drawn box two in a field that includes boom youngster Victa Louise, along with Abuzz, Tal Lee and Springvale Choix.
With two $2515-to-the-winner semi-finals to be decided, the first four from each semi will advance to next week’s $37,500 final.
Bartholomew also has Azumi Spice, an impressive 400 metre winner at Tara Raceway last Sunday, engaged from box six in a grade six over 515 metres.
