David Lewis
COMPTON Robbie’s consistent form continued last Sunday for Portland trainer Robert Halliday.
Lining up from box two in the Metal Worx Mixed Stake (512 m), Compton Robbie was last early but off the back rounded up the field before storming home for an emphatic 5¾ length win over Moonlight Kiss in 29.71 seconds.
Purchased by Halliday in October last year, the son of Glen Gallon and 2015 Mount Gambier Cup winner Lots Of Yap has now won six races including last December’s Peter Whitehead Memorial Maiden (400 m).
The April 2021 black dog has never been racing better but his trainer seems quite happy to keep him on his “home” track – Tara Raceway.
“Look, it is a story that has been told before but I am now at the time of life when I do not need to be breeding a litter and then hoping there is one among them that can run a bit,” Halliday said.
“Instead, I was able to purchase Compton Robbie ready to go from Tracie Price.
“For that, I am extremely grateful.
“My wife Shirley and I are way past the stage of travelling half-way around the state with greyhounds and getting home in the middle of the night.
“It would have to be a pretty special dog to get us away from our ‘home’ track.”
Earlier on Sunday, Halliday had once again pulled out his questionable pocket knife – questionable in as much that no one really knew where it had last been.
However, as he handed out pieces of Cherry Ripe and Violet Crumble, roughly sliced with that pocket knife, he did not hear too many complaints.
Garry Elliott’s Lightning Pest continued her love affair with Tara Raceway’s finish-on lure in the Exchange Printers Stake (400 m) after having opened her winning account over 305 metres the previous week in a quick 17.44 seconds.
Stepping up in grade and distance, the Southern Cross-based daughter of Lightning Frank and Rixy Ya Pest once again led all the way when defeating On The Spirits by 5¼ lengths in another quick time of 22.95 seconds.
