David Lewis
WITH a time of 23.88 seconds in a heat of the Fast Forward fastest eight over 400 metres at Tara Raceway, it is fair to say local greyhound Jive Queen only scrambled into Thursday’s Category 2 prizemoney final.
But she made every post a winner when leading all the way in the final – the Commercial Hotel Stake – holding out Scrubber for a length win in a best-of-day time of 23.03 seconds.
By Fernando Bale out of Tears I’m Not, Jive Queen was purchased unraced last year in a package deal from NSW breeder Kevin Gordon by local owner Kevin Douglas.
Tarpeena’s Dita Mitchell trained the white and brindle bitch for a first-up Mount Gambier win last December prior to Allendale East’s David Peckham taking over the training at the end of January.
However, speaking after the win, Douglas said Jive Queen was set to return to Tarpeena where Mitchell would assume the role of owner-trainer.
“Both David and I agree that Jive Queen would probably be better suited to a smaller kennel,” he said.
“As such, I believe Dita will have a lot of fun with her.
“I certainly wish her all the best.”
Meanwhile, just when Portland trainer Robert Halliday reckoned Marcus Moloney had all but worn out his welcome up he bobbed on Thursday with an impressive win in the Ary Sports Bar & Bistro 5+W Stake (400m).
Settling in third spot behind the Mitchell-trained Aston Dijon and Aston Shintaro, Marcus Moloney finished strongly when defeating the early leader by 1½ lengths in a personal best time of 23.10 seconds.
Halliday took over the son of Orson Allen and Glitterbug in June last year after his previous trainer had been looking to make room for some pups.
“Given that he had run a quick 22.11 seconds over 390 metres at Warrnambool I said I’d take him and try him at Mount Gambier while the owner sought out another trainer – preferably as quickly as possible,” he said.
“I’ve found that he struggles a little over 512 metres although he’s shown that he does handle 400 metres fairly well despite appearing to have a little trouble with the first bend.
“Anyway, Marcus Moloney is still here but at least he’s now won two races at Tara Raceway since I’ve had him.
“I suppose, if nothing else, he’s easy to train and no problem in the kennels although at the moment it looks a lot like he’s going nowhere.”
