By David Lewis
PETER Franklin, owner-trainer of last Sunday’s Michelle Niele Memorial Dual Distance final winner Moonlight Kiss, has achieved a fair amount over the journey with his greyhounds at Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway.
Track records over 400 metres, 512 metres and 600 metres with Ireland’s Oyster, Mojito Mayhem and McIvor Verna, plus there was a Mount Gambier Cup and Anniversary Cups with Mojito Mayhem for the former Moyston trainer, who is now based at Mortlake.
With the move came restricted kennel space and Franklin was the first to admit he had been a little lucky to actually pick up Moonlight Kiss.
“Back in August last year she was owned by her breeders, Rob and Linda Gore of Warrnambool, who had been looking to move on some of their greyhounds as they prepared to relocate to Queensland,” he said.
“With no strings attached, they offered me Moonlight Kiss who at the time had won two races over 390 metres at Warrnambool.
“Unfortunately, though, I had no spare kennels.
“But a few days later a kennel became free and Moonlight Kiss had still been on their list of giveaway greyhounds, even though the Queensland move had failed to materialise.
“The first congratulatory text I received yesterday after Moonlight Kiss’s win was from Linda.
“Her acknowledgement was really appreciated.”
By Orson Allen, Moonlight Kiss is out of Mepunga Fame, a winner of 16 races and $92,000 in prize money.
She is also a half-sister to Untapped (by Aston Dee Bee), a winner of 15 races and $330,000 in prize money for Dennington trainer Dustin Drew.
This year marked the third running of the memorial, conducted in memory of Michelle – daughter of Michael and Vicky Niele of Berringa Park Kennels – who lost her battle with cystic fibrosis in November 2019 at the of age of 23.
The inaugural memorial was won by the Tracie Price trained Golly Gumdrops and last year by Departure Gate, trained by Jason Newman.
Interestingly, the $4 favourite in the final won by Golly Gumdrops was the Franklin-trained Montaya who finished fifth.
Moonlight Kiss lined up from box two in this year’s 600-metre final on the back of a 1¾ length third behind Artificial Blue in the previous week’s 512-metre heat.
She quickly put herself into the race when settling in second spot behind Maximum Refusal, who gained a start as a reserve, before taking over the running down the back straight from the early leader.
Then in the home straight Franklin’s white and black bitch held off strong finishes from David Peckham’s rising 5½-year-old Maximum Refusal and the youngest runner, Compton Robbie, owned and trained by Robert Halliday.
On the line only 1¼ lengths separated the three placegetters in a time of 35.18 seconds.
“We knew Michelle all her short life as she confronted one obstacle after another,” said Halliday at the presentation and speaking also on behalf of his wife Shirley.
“She was simply the most perfect young lady.”
Also at the presentation was Damian Walter, mates with Franklin since primary school and heavily involved in those heady days of Mojito Mayhem and co.
“I really enjoy the racing here in Mount Gambier,” he said.
“When I come over to Tara Raceway I’m constantly reminded of what greyhound tracks and its people used to be like.”
Summing up the Michelle Niele Memorial Dual Distance Challenge was Peter Franklin: “It was a privilege to know Michelle and it was a privilege to win the race.”
