By David Lewis
THE $10,000 Carlin & Gazzard Summer Classic (512 metres) was off to a sizzling start at Tara Raceway last Sunday following the running of three heats of the age-restricted event.
It did not take long for 2023 leading local trainer Tracie Price to signal his intentions when it came to the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club’s second-richest race of the year.
Having his first start over any distance further than 400 metres, the Price-trained Myall Mate led all the way in the first heat of the classic when holding out a determined Ethanol Tank for a 1¾ length win in a very tidy 29.69 seconds.
The son of Beast Unleashed and Spot On Cinta – a daughter of the Group 1-winning Cintiarna – was bred and is owned by octogenarian couple Ray Gilmore and Judith Risk, who are based at Kilmany in eastern Victoria.
Gilmore has been involved with greyhounds since he was 12 years old.
He has trained more than 2000 winners, including Compacto, the 2011 Warrnambool Classic winner.
Risk, a one-time District Nurse, bred her first litter after one of her patients gave her a greyhound.
Rowsley trainer Matt Lanigan, who trained his first Tara Raceway winner in July last year when In The Bug was successful over 732 metres, really made his mark on last Sunday’s meeting with classic contenders Big Yeti and Canya Amy.
Big Yeti, who is raced by the Paul McDowall-managed Thank Frank Syndicate, is by Tommy Shelby out of Frank’s Girl and despite giving away a few months in age, he gave away nothing in ability.
The brindle dog settled in third spot in the second heat before taking the lead turning for home and subsequently running out a 5¾ length winner over Compton Lass in 30.03 seconds.
“We actually reared the whole litter with five still remaining on the property and all but one of those having won,” said Lanigan, training since 2016 – the past three years on his 50-acre Rowsley property.
But Lanigan had kept the best to last – Canya Amy in heat three of the classic.
Lining up from box five, the fawn daughter of Sennachie and Bombshell Bandit led all the way, eventually running out a nine length winner over eight-race winner Wild Banker in 29.27 seconds – only 1¼ lengths outside Victa Grosso’s 29.18 seconds track record run in August 2022.
Canya Amy is raced by Adelaide-based Mud Flaps Racing, which comprises Dale Baker, John Elliott, James Leo and Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club sponsor Leigh Schreier of Progreyhoundtips.com.
The syndicate purchased Canya Amy, a half-sister to 2021 Wentworth Park Group 1 Vic Peters winner Bandit Ned, from NSW breeder Toby Weekes after she had been broken-in.
She was then transferred to the Lanigan kennels.
The Mud Flaps are now pushing on with their involvement in greyhound racing through a Tasmanian-bred brood bitch by the name of Self Control, a daughter of Aston Dee Bee and Hoity Toity.
A winner of 14 races and $40,000 in prize money, Self Control recently whelped to Fernando Bale.
The litter of 10 will now be reared at Rowsley.
Meanwhile, later on Sunday afternoon, Lanigan’s day got even better.
That was after Super Nugget, a litter sister to Big Yeti, was successful at Sandown Park over 515 metres in a quick 29.37 seconds for Warrnambool breeder-owner Glenn Skene.
“Yes, it turned out to be a really good day, even better after the dogs appeared to have pulled up well,” Lanigan said.
“And while I don’t come to Tara Raceway very often, I find it a terrific place to race.
“If only it was an hour or so closer to Rowsley.
“But given the support I receive locally, greyhound-wise, from the Bartholomew family, I’m only too happy to get behind the Mount Gambier club whenever I can.”
This is the second year Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA) has sponsored the Family Fun in the Sun concept, which incorporates SA’s four greyhound racing tracks.
Mount Gambier’s Family Fun Day is on Sunday (January 21) at Tara Raceway on Lake Terrace East.
A bouncy castle, ice cream van and face painter received unprecedented patronage last year.
They will be back again on Sunday.
As far as the Family Fun Day is concerned, it is more about getting families to the track and less about the greyhound racing.
At last year’s event, Tara Raceway had never seen so many kids at one of its race meetings.
Everyone connected with the local greyhound racing club is hopeful of another great turnout this Sunday.
