David Lewis
IN what was the fourth running of the 400-metre Peter Whitehead Memorial Maiden, the Whitehead family once again threw its support behind Sunday’s Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club event.
Compton trainer Tracie Price, who had been closely associated with Whitehead, won the first two memorials with Elle Limes and Sally Limes.
Smiling Stan won the event last year for Portland trainer Nifty Lenehan.
This year it was another Portland greyhound in Compton Robbie who is raced by Robert and Shirley Halliday.
Having only his third start, the son of Glen Gallon and Lots Of Yap quickly moved into second spot from box seven behind Pattern before finishing strongly for a 2¼ length win in a smart 23.11 seconds.
Halliday purchased Compton Robbie from Price in October after a third placing on debut over 305 metres.
The Whitehead family has also provided a striking perpetual trophy which will remain on display in the clubrooms of the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club.
Meanwhile, Bendigo trainer Aaron Blake wrapped up a terrific year at Tara Raceway with his grand little stayer Adelong who has now won 10 races – all this year and all at Tara Raceway.
By Fernando Bale out of Bonnie Beauty, the blue bitch led all the way in Sunday’s Hyland Fox Stake (732m) when defeating Ebby Tock by 2½ lengths in 43.54 seconds.
Adelong’s the greyhound who for much of the year was racing in a one-blinkered muzzle.
However, Blake has now dispensed with the blinker.
She ended the year having won over 400m, 512m, 600m and 732m at the local track.
