David Lewis
MARGARET Cryer, formerly of Apsley, informed the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club late last week her husband, Tom, had passed away on the Sunday prior in an Edenhope nursing home at the age of 89.
A colourful character to say the least, Tom Cryer and his wife enjoyed tremendous success at Tara Raceway with offspring of Cryer’s Midget.
She won 11 races at the Mount Gambier track, the majority of those wins coming prior to the introduction of TAB racing.
In 2013 she was mated with Spring Gun.
A repeat mating followed in 2015.
All told, more than 150 winners came from the two litters – feature race winners and track record holders also thrown in for good measure.
As far as the Cryers were concerned, it was the start of a Sunday morning ritual.
A trailer-load of greyhounds, breakfast at Penola and then a day at the dogs in Mount Gambier where more often than not a winner or two would be forthcoming.
In 2018 Cryer purchased a pup by Spring Gun out of Grimsby Girl from Compton breeder Tracie Price.
Later to race as Cryer’s Spring, he was the trainer’s last winner when successful at Tara Raceway on March 22, 2020.
Later that year Nicole Stanley of Portland took over the training of the brindle dog for Margaret Cryer.
The win of Cryer’s Spring last month at his 100th start made for a nice touch as did last Sunday’s win in the Carlin & Gazzard MG Mixed Stake over 400 metres.
A winning farewell , if you like, for his former trainer after leading all the way and holding out Phantom Call and Ashton Shintaro to score in 23.19 seconds.
Complementing Stanley’s win was co-trainer Neville “Nifty” Lenehan’s treble with Master Shameem, Mrs. Cameron and Hostile Raven.
This was his best day at the track since August 8, 2021 when Radioactive, Aston Shintaro, Hostile Savage and Daph’s Extreme had been successful.
By My Redeemer out of Raz’s Girl, Master Shameem was purchased as a pup from Allendale East breeder David Peckham by Malcolm Keenan of Tarpeena.
“I’d had no luck with a dog from Raz’s Girl’s first litter but when there was a blue pup for sale from her second I decided to have another go because I had always wanted a dog of that colour,” Keenan said.
“Later, I’d had a bit of trouble in finding someone to pre-train Master Shameem until Nifty put his hand up and said he’d take him and also train him if I wanted.”
At only his second start, the September 2020 whelping led all the way in the Commercial Hotel Maiden Stake (400m) when defeating Storm Shelter by 2¼ lengths in 23.58 seconds.
Raced and trained by Lenehan, Mrs. Cameron led all the way in the Produce Store Maiden/One Win Stake (512m), eventually holding on to defeat Blazing Beth – a litter sister to Adelong, winner of the following race – in 30.54 seconds.
“I thought this was a good race for her today but she certainly cut it pretty fine,” a relieved Lenehan said after the half head win.
By Lightning Frank, Mrs. Cameron is out of Fascinated, a 10-race Tara Raceway winner for Penshurst breeder John Cameron who negotiated a one-for-one rearing deal with Lenehan.
Having her fifth run back after a seven-month break due to injuries and seasonal issues, Hostile Raven, owned by the Queensland-based Jim Collins, brought up her first win since August last year when turning in a big performance in the Swallow Drive Meats Stake (400m).
Settling in third spot, the daughter of Hostile and Sweet Savage took over the running off the back before going on to a five length win over Saint Ollie in 23.28 seconds.
It was a win that pleased her trainer.
“I thought she went pretty well considering all the setbacks she’s had to endure,” Collins said.
“But, to be honest, I think her future now lies in breeding.
“She’s very strong and boasts a pretty handy pedigree.
“I still have to organise the relevant paper work with Jim but he’s also keen to breed with her.”
Meanwhile, Glenroy trainer Richard Clayfield continued his good run with litter sisters Shimmy Sharna and Glenville Rose – December 2018 daughters of Aston Dee Bee and Majestic Tale.
Chasing back-to-back wins, the front-running Shimmy Sharna held on in a desperate finish to defeat Elarbee Mercury by a half head in the Bartholomew Pick 6 Stake (400m) in 23.42 seconds.
The wins came after she had run a close second to Glenville Rose on May 26.
