David Lewis
TWO Hands George, owned and trained at Meningie by Tim Richards, brought up his 35th win last Thursday when winning a TG5+W Stake at Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway over 512 metres in 30.19 seconds.
Leading all the way from box three at what was his 168th start, the 5½-year-old son of Aston Dee Bee and Molly Be Nimble defeated Cadillac Patch, a mere pup with only 105 starts to his name, by 1¼ lengths.
Two Hands George commenced his career with a second placing over 515 metres at Angle Park four years ago.
While he has probably now been around on more occasions than any other SA chaser, the black dog continues to race better than ever.
This year he has won five races – four at Mount Gambier over 400 metres, 512 metres and 600 metres and one at Gawler over 400 metres.
Runs of 29.64 seconds over 512 metres and 35.15 seconds (600 metres) hold up well as does 22.92 seconds at the northern track.
Richards, who won his first race at the Mount Gambier track in December 2017 with a greyhound called Allen Paul, also bred the Two Hands George litter which turned out to be very good.
Jack’s Well won 35 races and $121,000 in prize money while in 2021 at Tara Raceway Justice For all and Crush Your Enemy won the Summer Classic and Newman McDonnell Memorial respectively for Richards.
Butter Up Again is still racing for Richards, having now gone around on 142 occasions for 17 wins and 38 minor placings.
The 14-race winner Rosie Red’s litter by My Redeemer includes Apilla, Bookaloo, Culburra, Jabuk, Mallee Beauty and Mundulla who have all won races.
However, it is the evergreen Two Hands George, also boasting 68 minor placings and prize money of more than $64,000, who is one of the favourites of Richards and his partner Tanya Bialek.
“Look, I reckon he’s running better now than he ever has,” Richards said.
“He’s always around the mark and loves racing.
“Also, what I really like about him is that he just keeps on grinding away like the true iron dog that he is.”
Meanwhile, on Thursday night, Millicent trainer Dave Green had Ernie The Brute and Sher Zany engaged at Angle Park.
Ernie The Brute, a winner at Tara Raceway the previous week, was having his first look at the city track in a grade six event over 530 metres.
Well back early from box one, the son of Shima Shine and Saldana worked home well to finish a 3¼ length third behind Nowhere Man in 30.93 seconds.
Sher Zany, also well back early in a grade five event over 530 metres, stormed home for a two-length second to Victa Kerle in 30.89 seconds.
Meanwhile, Litter brothers Myall Jack and Myall Ray reached the $14,275 final of the 2024 SA National Straight Track Championship over 350 metres at Murray Bridge for Compton trainer Tracie Price.
By Beast Unleashed out of Spot On Cinta, the pair both finished second in their respective heats.
They drew boxes two and eight in the final which was run on Tuesday.
