David Lewis
THURSDAY turned out to be a big day on for Meningie trainer Tim Richards, back at Tara Raceway for the first time since last December when successful with Time After Time, a daughter of Barcia Bale and Molly Be Nimble.
This time it was litter sister Nimue who kicked off the winning day.
Leading all the way in the 400-metre Trackside Meats Stake – the fourth heat of a Fast Forward series – she defeated Survive The Fury by a length in 23.29 seconds.
Bringing up a double was She’s Driven, by Aston Dee Bee out of Purpose Driven, who led all the way in the 400-metre Exchange Printers Stake, holding on to defeat Barefoot Rebel by a head in 23.55 seconds.
However, the day was not yet over for Richards, whose first ever Tara Raceway winner had been with a dog called Allen Paul back on December 15, 2017.
He still had Coorong Cam and He’s All Purpose engaged later at Angle Park.
Coorong Cam, a litter brother to Nimue, recorded an easy 7½ length win over 530 metres while He’s All Purpose, a brother to She’s Driven, brought up the trainer’s second double of the day when scoring a head win over 595 metres.
Five heats of the monthly Fast Forward series over 400 metres were conducted at Mount Gambier’s Thursday time-graded meeting.
The fastest eight qualifiers, irrespective of finishing positions, advanced to this week’s Category 2 prize money final.
Jayville Zorro kicked off a couple of good days for leading local trainer Tracie Price when heading the qualifiers with a time of 23.10 seconds.
The following day he landed a double at Horsham with Buster Banjo and Myall Man.
Also through to the Fast Forward final are Freddy Deeds 23.24, Bungaloo Darcy 23.28, Nimue, Survive The Fury 23.36, On The Northerns 23.46, Popcorn Miss 23.48 and Cadillac Magic 23.55.
Meanwhile, Koroit breeder-owner-trainer Gerald McKenna was in the money last Thursday when litter sisters Melody Bay and Crimson Bay both ran third in their respective races.
His first port of call once kennelling the pair had been to the track office to pick up a recently-arrived copy of the Chase – Australia’s only monthly national print and online greyhound racing publication.
Featured in the May edition was a story on the $10,000-to-the-winner 530-metre Canterbury-Bankstown City Cup, returning after a Covid break to the non-TAB track Potts Park, 25 minutes from the heart of Sydney.
Also featured in the article was a presentation photograph of the 2014 City Cup at Potts Park which included the McKenna-owned Droopy’s Bay who had run third.
“He was by Droopy’s Puzzle out of Maggie Bay,” McKenna said.
“My wife Carolyn and I bred and owned him and later sent him to Garry and Janel Erwin at Ambarvale in NSW to be trained.
“He didn’t turn out too badly, either.
“All told, he raced on 73 occasions for 18 wins and close to $26,000 in prize money.
“He also won on plenty of NSW tracks including Wentworth Park, Bulli, Richmond, Dapto, Maitland and, of course Potts Park.”
Incidentally, Melody Bay and Crimson Bay are by Worm Burner out of Zipping Melody who had been trained briefly by Garry Erwin.
Later she won four races at Mount Gambier for McKenna prior to being retired for breeding.
