Stayers share the lead in GOTY award

TOO FAST: Wind Burn Flash defeats Mick’s Kimmy over 732 metres at Tara Raceway on May 14. Picture: SUBMITTED

David Lewis

ANOTHER 732-metre win at the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club’s Sunday, May 14 meeting by Wind Burn Flash over her nemesis Mick’s Kimmy saw the pair on equal terms in the Greyhound of the Year (GOTY).

By Worm Burner out of Real Flash, Wind Burn Flash is trained at Moorak by Jason Newman who also prepared the winner of the 2022 Mount Gambier Greyhound of the Year in Departure Gate.

So far, this year both greyhounds have accumulated 31 GOTY points at Tara Raceway.

Wind Burn Flash has won six races at the track, four of those over 732 metres at the expense of Mick’s Kimmy, a daughter of Barcia Bale and Mick’s Angel.

A rising five-year-old with 136 race starts to her name, Mick’s Kimmy is trained at Mortlake by Peter Crawley.

She has won four 732-metre races this year at Tara Raceway – one of those over Wind Burn Flash.

Mick’s Kimmy’s 43.22 seconds, run when finishing second to Emani Bale in a still-standing track record time of 43.10 seconds on April 10, 2022, remains the second-fastest time recorded over 732 metres at the local track.

Wind Burn Flash’s 43.41 seconds run on May 14 is the fastest time this year.

As the GOTY approaches the half-way mark, other Newman-trained greyhounds figuring in the mix are Nitrogen Outlaw, Not So Expensive and Velocity Lotus.

Also in the top 10 are Kerry Hawker’s Nero Valentino, Compton Yap (Tracie Price) and Crafter Road (Peter Keane).

The Koroit-trained Crafter Road is owned locally by Noel Miller, Peter Lamond and Gail Richards.

Last Thursday night he was successful at Warrnambool where he paid $42 for the win.

Greyhound of the Year scoring is applied to Category 2 meetings (Sundays).

Race distances ranging from 512 metres to 732 metres are scored on a 4, 2, 1 points basis while short course races over 305 metres and 400 metres carry points of 3, 2, 1.