By David Lewis
LIKELY Cadillac Racing Mount Gambier Cup contenders Aston Kalkara and Wild Star should generate plenty of interest when they clash in Sunday’s grade-five final over 512 metres at Tara Raceway.
A son of Aston Kimetto and Aston Upton, Aston Kalkara is a winner of seven races and $45,315 in prize money for owner Ray Borda and Dennington trainer Dustin Drew.
Having his first start at Tara Raceway, the black dog drew box one in the first heat, the Winning Post Supplies Stake.
Last early in the four-dog field, before cutting down to the rails in the home straight, he finished strongly for a length win over Compton Kelly in 30.11 seconds.
Speaking after the race, Drew said the win had been only Aston Kalkara’s second since returning to racing in November after having sustained a significant injury.
“He required an operation and we were hopeful we could get him back to racing given his form prior to the middle of last year had been pretty good,” he said.
“He ran second to Kelsey Bale in a heat of last year’s Group 2 Warrnambool Cup (450m) and then finished sixth to her in the final.
“He’ll get to have another run on the track this Sunday so we’ll see how he handles himself this week.
“But all things being equal, I’m certainly hopeful of being back for the cup in April.”
In 2022, Drew trained Max Power who won the Border Challenge (512m) at Tara Raceway.
Wild Star was part of another big day for Compton trainer Tracie Price who finished with five winners – Compton Lass, Lakeview Heather (raced by Price’s daughter Sarah), Current Model and Compton Charlie also successful.
Price’s day was his biggest since September 3 last year when he had won with Compton Charlie, Donny Rocks, Lakeview Jet, Hooked On Love and Ebby Justice.
Wild Star, a member of the successful Need My Moneynow x Wild Marilyn litter, led all the way from box eight in her heat, the Exchange Printers Stake, when defeating Zipping Shakira by 4¾ lengths in 29.73 seconds.
Meanwhile, Damien Smith, who 12 months ago set up next door to the Murray Bridge track, made the trip down to Mount Gambier with Make Noise and Special Herbs.
It had been a while since his last winner at Tara Raceway – in August 2021 with Piastri.
It is fair to say that Smith’s day did not start off all that well after Make Noise was a late scratching.
This was disappointing inasmuch that her anticipated clash with Aston Kalkara would have added even more interest to the first heat of the grade 5.
But things did get better after the Troy Maynard-owned Special Herbs led all the way in the Produce Store Stake (512m), eventually defeating Lightning Pest by 1¼ lengths in a handy 29.98 seconds.
The 43-year-old Smith boasts a long involvement in greyhound racing through his father Ross and grandmother Dorrie.
Dorrie Smith had been heavily involved in greyhound breeding in the Riverland at a time when greyhound racing was regularly conducted at the Barmera track.
Together with son Ross – who still races the odd greyhound or two – they bred some outstanding greyhounds with Riverland Belle and some of the offspring of the daughter of Black Diro and Tivoli Three.
In 1983, Barry and Jenny Fullerton made the trip down to Glenburnie from Red Cliffs and won the Mount Gambier Cup with Magic Fame, a daughter of Magic Typhoon and Riverland Belle.
Three years later, Kevin Stone ventured down from Barmera and was successful in the Mount Gambier Cup with Riverland Roy, a son of Roy Trease and Riverland Belle.
In 1982, Cyril Boston won the Adelaide Cup at Angle Park with Smithy’s Belle, a daughter of Waverly Supreme and Riverland Belle.
When it comes to the breeding of greyhounds, it could probably be said that Damien Smith has also done well with Majestic Tale, a winner of 16 races and $20,000 in prize money.
All told, the daughter of Collision and Crystal’s Voice from her four litters by Aston Dee Bee, Spring Gun, Magic Sprite and Hooked On Scotch has so far produced 191 winners on tracks all around Australia.
