By David Lewis
AJMER’S impressive 5¾ length win – his first in six months – over Myola Frost in last Thursday’s 400-metre Klaassens Contractors Stake kicked off a big week at Tara Raceway for Moorak trainer Jason Newman.
According to Newman, as far as the Tim Aloisi owned son of Mogambo x Azalea Monelli was concerned it was a case of the black dog returning to where it all began a couple of years ago.
“He was actually reared down here at David Peckham’s Bourne Kennels where I had a bit to do with him while he was growing up,” Newman said.
“Anyway, he eventually found his way to WA where he won three races before finding his way back to SA and in Adrien Chevalier’s Ettrick kennels.
“But a failing to pursue suspension early in January threw a spanner in the works and Tim asked me if I would be interested in having a go with him behind the finish-on-lure at the Mount Gambier track.”
Last Sunday’s Category 2 meeting was even better – his third treble since landing his first winner back in June 2020 with Like A Slug – this time with Lavezzi, Locked and Departure Gate.
Lavezzi, a son of Keybow and Velocity Lilly, landed some nice wagers when rounding up perennial placegetter Rosa Matisse on the home turn before going on to a 1¼ length win in the Produce Store Maiden Stake (305m).
Newman is the first to admit the black dog, owned by Steve Williams’ Velocity Lodge, has been a real challenge.
“Generally he is a bad box dog,” he said.
“He trials well but as a rule doesn’t perform on race days although I always knew he could run the time he did today.
“In fact, it was only recently that he was advertised for sale at a pretty realistic price but there had been no takers.
“Actually, now I’m sort of glad that he wasn’t sold because maybe the penny is starting to drop.”
It was Adelaide trainer Troy Murray who contacted Newman to see if he was interested in training another Velocity Lodge dog called Locked who at the time had won a maiden at Gawler.
“I was keen on having a go with Locked but at the last minute Troy decided he wanted to persevere with the dog for a bit longer,” Newman said.
“However, he offered me Velocity Lodge’s Beatific.
“I had him for a couple of months in which time he won four races at Mount Gambier and ran second in the Christmas Cup.
“But when Beatific went back to Troy, he replaced him with Locked.
“So the way I see it, everyone’s come out a winner.”
