David Lewis
AFTER previously reaching the final of seven Group races, Victorian owned and trained greyhound Titan Blazer opened his winning account on Sunday in the 512-metre Group 3 Carlin & Gazzard Mount Gambier Cup at Tara Raceway.
Second early from box five behind local hope Lochinvar Cahill, Titan Blazer took over the running into the back straight before running out a 1½ length winner over the early leader in a race-record time of 29.36 seconds.
Now a winner of close to $250,000 in prize money, the son of Mepunga Blazer and Miss Tron is owned by his breeder, Peter Arnott of Lara and trained at Avalon by Daniel Gibbons, the 34-year-old grandson of former highly-successful trainer Graeme Bate.
This was the second consecutive year that Gibbons had runners engaged at the Mount Gambier Cup meeting.
Last year he was successful with Emani Bale who won the Rocks Tavern Feature Distance (732m) in a still-standing track record time of 43.10 seconds.
But as Titan Blazer crossed the line in first place in the Mount Gambier Cup – its 43rd consecutive running – Gibbons and his family had been busy boarding a flight to Bali.
He was over the moon, though, upon learning the result.
Standing in for the trainer has been kennel foreman Mark Johnson who was also over for the heats the previous week in what was his first time at the Mount Gambier track and the team looks to be in pretty good hands.
“Off and on, I’ve been involved with greyhounds since I was 15,” Johnson said.
“Then, when I retired back in 2018 I spent time working with the Daillys, the Grenfells and the Jeff Britton/Angela Langton team.
“I’ve now been with Daniel for about five months.
“I’ve found that their training routines don’t vary all that much but being with the bigger kennels has given me the opportunity to handle some of the better dogs racing in Victoria.
“I’m now looking at setting up my own operation at Camperdown.”
As far as Titan Blazer was concerned, Johnson said the 3½-year-old black dog could be a bit lazy in his work at times, but once he got onto the track he had a great will to win.
“I thought the Mount Gambier Cup win was a great result given the amount of big race finals that he had previously reached,” Johnson said.
“Now we’re looking at the $75,000-to-the-winner Sportsbet Geelong Cup (520 m), heats of which will be run on Friday, April 14.”
Meanwhile, Johnson also enjoyed success in his own right when Oliver Bale virtually led all the way to win the Commersh Masters Feature Stake (305 metres) by 2½ lengths over Bungaloo Anne in a near track record time of 17.32 seconds.
“He was actually at the Grenfell kennels when I was working there and when he came up for sale for $2000 I decided I’d give him a go,” he said.
“He has now won three races for me with Sunday’s race for greyhounds 3¾ years and older, and over the short course, really suiting him.”
The Kenyon family of Lara went close to having their first Mount Gambier Cup finalist after Blackpool Ryan clocked 29.66 seconds in a heat behind Yahiro Bale.
Involved in the sport for seven years, Renee Kenyon was back on Sunday with the son of Bernardo and Lochinvar Adore for the Exchange Printers Mount Gambier Cup Consolation (512m).
Blackpool Ryan, who is raced by Adrian and Renee’s daughter Alexis, virtually led all the way when defeating Aston Marvel by 1¼ lengths in 29.77 seconds.
Bred by Adrian Kenyon, Blackpool Ryan is one of a litter that has won more than $150,000 in prize money.
“We purchased Lochinvar Adore, a winner of 18 races, from NSW breeder Kevin Gordon,” said Renee.
“Tracing back to the legendary NSW Greyhound Hall of Famer Osti Too, she now has two more litters to follow – by Shima Shine and Aston Rupee.
Lochinvar Cahill, runner-up in the Mount Gambier Cup, was also purchased from Gordon – by local owner Kevin Douglas, who was presented with an award from the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club on Sunday in recognition of his contribution to the club.
