Price continues on record-breaking spree

TOP RUN: Urana Meat Loaf equals Lektra Gal’s 305 metre track record at Tara Raceway last Sunday. Picture: Submitted

David Lewis

COMPTON trainer Tracie Price’s 2022 track record-breaking spree continued at Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway Category 2 meeting last Sunday when Urana Meat Loaf equalled Lektra Gal’s 305-metre time of 17.28 seconds.

Going from one extreme to the other, the Phil Lenehan-trained Lektra Gal recorded her time in the Swallow Drive Meats Juvenile Stake on January 23 this year, while Sunday’s record-equalling run came in the Metal Worx Masters Stake.

Juvenile races are for youngsters aged between 16 months and 24 months while Masters events – introduced to keep racing greyhounds in the system for a longer period of time – cater for the age bracket of 3¾ years and older.

Price’s unprecedented track record splurge kicked off in January when Giant’s Flash ran 29.19 seconds over the 512-metre journey.

The following month, his litter sister Minnie Banjo lowered the 400-metre record to 22.42 seconds.

Two months later, Giant’s Flash became a dual track record holder when running 34.69 seconds over 600 metres.

Then, last week, he equalled his 512-metre record when winning the Exchange Printers Anniversary Cup.

Urana Meat Loaf, a 24-start rising four-year-old son of Dalgetty and Zippy’s Me Mum, has now been in the Compton kennels for 12 months following three wins at Bulli and Bathurst.

What a remarkable story it has been.

He won a further seven races at Mount Gambier and Murray Bridge before incurring a 60-day stand down in December due to injury.

Since then, according to Price, it has been a case of persevering and never giving up on the black dog.

“He injured a back leg muscle which is never good,” he said.

“But after a couple of months he looked to be moving pretty well so we gave him another try.

“Once again, though, he pulled up sore.”

Almost eight months later the well-supported Urana Meat Loaf brought up his 11th win when leading all the way at his first run over 305 metres to defeat Run Fast Onesie by 3½ lengths.

Full of praise for Price and his team was Melbourne-based Michael Binns who manages the Go Go Go Greyhounds Syndicate which races Urana Meat Loaf and Aussie Swiper.

“I can’t speak highly enough of Tracie and his team,” he said.

“Both these dogs have required extensive rehab and I know they could have replaced them with other ones.

“They never gave up and were rewarded for their efforts.”

Binns also said the win was a boost for the syndicate members who had stayed loyal in the face of adversity.

“We started with about 40 members but after all the setback we’ve had a few drop out so it was nice to see those who have stayed on board also reap the rewards,” he said.

Aussie Swiper also suffered back leg muscle problems and was sidelined for 10 months.

She has since won two races at Mount Gambier.

Last Sunday she gave plenty of cheek when running Captain Larry to four lengths in 29.55 seconds in the 512-metre Gambier Vets Mixed Stake.