By David Lewis
LEWISTON owner-trainer Scott Feltus set the scene for a day of doubles at last Thursday’s time-graded meeting at Tara Raceway when leading in the first two maiden winners with litter brothers Safe Hands Bob and Derton Berton.
Slowly away from box two in the 305-metre Commercial Hotel Stake, Safe Hands Bob quickly put himself into the race before finishing strongly and defeating Melody Bay by a neck in 18.40 seconds.
Then $2.30 favourite Derton Berton, a $100 chance at his previous start at Gawler, virtually led all the way in the Hyland Fox Stake (400m) when defeating kennel mate Demon Stynes by 1¾ lengths in 23.89 seconds.
By US sire Superior Panama, the winning pair is out of Zipping Irene, a 535-metre winner at Richmond and at Wentworth Park over 720 metres.
The wins were the first for the dam’s second litter which was whelped in September 2021.
“I actually purchased one of her first litter as a pup, which is now a rising three-year-old and still yet to win, from Sellicks Beach breeder Ossie Chegia, but have had a bit more luck the second time around,” said Feltus, whose last local winner had been with Dasher Millane in April.
Feltus first became associated with greyhounds back in 2014 after a celebrated career in country football.
The first time he raced at Tara Raceway was in June 2019 when he landed a treble with Twisted Missile, Nut Allergy and Bambalam Brandy.
Making the long trip down with him last Thursday was his 13-year-old daughter Lily, thoroughly enjoying her first time at the Mount Gambier track and who, it would appear, is hell-bent on following in her father’s footsteps.
“I’m hoping that later this year I’ll be able to become a 14-15 year old registered catcher,” she said.
“Also, I’ve been accepted into a squad of 13-16 year old girls who will train with the Crows AFLW team and that should be really exciting.”
Meanwhile, also coming up with a running double – Subzero Annie and Emerley Aussie – was Jack Trengove, based just down the road from Feltus at Two Wells.
A daughter of Fernando Bale and the unraced Subzero Doll, Subzero Annie led all the way in the Carlin & Gazzard TG1-4W Stake (400m) when defeating kennelmate Subverse by a length in 23.29 seconds.
Emerley Aussie, a daughter of Aussie Infrared and 24-race winner Emerley Avenue, led all the way in the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 TG5+W Stake (400m), eventually holding out another kennelmate in Daniel Sun for a three-quarter length win in 23.50 seconds.
The following day, the Trengove-trained Despairing opened her winning account in a maiden over 395 metres at Murray Bridge.
Compton trainer Tracie Price landed his 16th double at Tara Raceway this year with the wins of Buster Banjo and Spot On Yvonne, the former finishing full of running to defeat kennelmate Myall Hiker by 1¼ lengths in 23.29 seconds in the Produce Store TG5+W Stake (400 m).
Spot On Yvonne, a 400-metre maiden winner last month, found plenty in the Gordon Refrigeration TG1-4W Stake (512m) when leading all the way for a nine-length win over Boy From Hill in 30.19 seconds.
Price was also successful the next day at Murray Bridge with Buster Banjo’s litter brother Mister Banjo.
The son of Zambora Brockie x El Rapido always looked to be travelling like a winner when holding out Blue Pride for a 1½ length win over 395 metres in 22.18 seconds.
Wrapping up the day of doubles was Berringa trainer Michael Niele, successful in the final two races with Arrow Bar Peanut and Gizmo Osti in the Metal Worx TG5+W Stake (400m).
Niele won his first race with Arrow Bar Peanut when the daughter of Aston Dee Bee and Samsara Lass led all the way in the Ary Sports Bar & Bistro TG1-4W Stake (400m) and defeated Circular by a nose in 23.72 seconds.
Gizmo Osti – chasing his first win this year and at 5½ years of age one of the oldest greyhounds racing locally – brought up the Niele double when finishing over the top of Worms Are Biting for a three-quarter length win in 23.78 seconds.
