David Lewis
MOORAK-BASED greyhound Wind Burn Flash’s third placing in the first heat of the SA Distance Championship at Angle Park last Thursday night now sees the Jason Newman trained stayer through to the $15,250 final over 730 metres this Thursday.
A 10½ length winner over 732 metres at Tara Raceway earlier in the month, Wind Burn Flash was beaten 3¾ lengths by Zipping Senorita after travelling in second spot for much of the journey.
Newman had been more than happy with the effort, predicting she would be right in the mix – despite drawing box seven – in Thursday night’s final.
“I would have loved to have seen her drawn in closer in the final,” he said.
“But given that was her first run at Angle Park over 700 metres, I’m still hoping she will be able to find the front and give them something to catch.”
Wind Burn Flash, who won her first three races in WA at Mandurah over distances ranging from 302 metres to 490 metres, is owned at Wodonga by Trevor Rhodes.
He also bred the daughter of Worm Burner and 2015 Group 2 WA Oaks winner Real Flash.
According to Newman, Wind Burn Flash appeared to come of age when stepping up in distance after relocating to Moorak in July last year.
“A couple of strong 600 metre wins at Tara Raceway and one over 595 metres at Angle Park had us then believing that perhaps she might even run a bit further,” he said.
“As it’s turned out, she’s been a terrific addition to the kennel, having now won 12 races for us including four over 732 metres.”
And wouldn’t a win in the SA Distance Championship top things off nicely?
Meanwhile, at Warrnambool on the same night, the locally-owned Divine Nature scored an impressive maiden win over 450 metres for Rowsley trainer Matt Lanigan.
Raced by the Bartholomew family, Divine Nature quickly took up the running from box six before powering away to an 8¼ length win in a quick 25.28 seconds.
He is by 44-race winner Blue Moon Rising out of Galactic Destiny, who won six races at Tara Raceway and is a litter sister to Galactic Athena, winner of the 2019 Mount Gambier Cup.
Unique Destiny, a recent winner at Bendigo and Ballarat – and a litter brother to Divine Nature – is also being trained by Lanigan for the Bartholomews.
Another litter member is Devilish Child who remains here in Mount Gambier with Elysia Bartholomew.
She has now won four races at Tara Raceway and Murray Bridge with the white and black bitch.
The following day at Murray Bridge it was five-year-old Maximum Refusal who brought up his 27th win at start number 135 for Allendale East owner-trainer David Peckham.
After leading early, the son of Fernando Bale and Kilkee Flex dug deep in the run home to score by a length in the Special Event over 530 metres in a time of 30.03 seconds.
The win was the brindle dog’s third in succession after previously having defeated Wind Burn Flash and Wise Dorper in 600 metre events at Tara Raceway.
It was also the second leg of a running double for Peckham after Federal Flash brought up his third win from his past four starts when successful over 455 metres.
