From a numbers point of view, last Thursday’s time-graded greyhound meeting at Tara Raceway was hit hard after trainers Yvonne King and Tony Hinrichsen were unable to make the trip to Mount Gambier.
All told, they had 15 runners engaged at the 12-race program – all late scratchings after the pair unfortunately encountered significant problems with the whelping of a litter at their Langhorne Creek property.
For all that, though, only one race was lost although several were a bit light on for numbers.
As far as the TAB was concerned, race one – the Klaassens Contractors Maiden Stake (400 metres) – was abandoned after John Little’s Bungaloo Ebony was the only greyhound left in the race.
All the same, the daughter of Pure Titanium and Bungaloo Sunset still went around, clocking 23.96 seconds in what was a walkover.
However, this was a profitable solo trial – Little collecting a $465 first prize along with a $1000 SA-bred bonus.
“I have to be honest, I reckon that was probably the only way she was ever going to win a race,” said the Kongorong-based trainer.
And he may well have been right, Bungaloo Ebony chasing her first win at what had been start number 50.
One visiting trainer who did make it to Mount Gambier was Scott Feltus of Lewiston.
His long trip was rewarded with a treble – Land Of Promise, Lita Warrior and Bumrah taking his number of wins this year at the local track to 20.
This was Feltus’s third Tara Raceway treble, his first coming on June 20, 2019 when he had been successful at his initial trip to the track with Twisted Missile, Nut Allergy and Bambalam Brandy.
Then, Rosie’s Angel, Tayah’s Express and Rebellious Nick won on February 11 this year.
Owned and trained by Feltus, littermates Land Of Promise and Bumrah both did the job well last Thursday when leading all the way respectively in the Greg Martlew Autos Stake (400 m) and the Gordon Refrigeration Stake (400 m).
Bred at Lewiston by Don Turner, the pair is by Banjo Boy out of Whitney Showgirl, a well-bred sister to Dundee Calypso who won 15 races and $124,000 in stakemoney.
Involved in the sport for seven years, Feltus has been training Land Of Promise and Bumrah for their entire racing careers.
They have now both won five races with their trainer more than happy with the progress they are making.
“Land Of Promise was a big winner here the previous week in 23.40 seconds and lowered that time today to 23.09 seconds so I’m hoping she might be able to go on to bigger and better things.
“Also, it was good to see Bumrah win his first race on the circle in a handy 23.33 seconds after his previous wins had all been up the straight at Murray Bridge.”
Lita Warrior, who won her maiden up the straight at Murray Bridge in September, brought up her second win when quickly finding the front in the Rock’s Tavern Stake (400 m).
By Brett Lee out of Julie Flash, Lita Warrior is raced by the Franco Farr Syndicate which is managed by Port Augusta identity Kevin Harris, whose association with Feltus goes back to their footballing days.
And Mount Gambier-based Ken Feltus, well-known in harness and greyhound racing circles, certainly chose the right day to catch up with his son.
Compton trainer Tracie Price landed another treble – his 13th this year – when Compton Banjo, Urana Meat Loaf and Amorphous Fire were successful.
The standout of the trio was Urana Meat Loaf in the Trackside Meats Stake (400 m).
Away well from box one, the son of Dalgetty x Zippy’s Me Mum opened up a handy break early over Out Of Gas before hanging on for dear life to win by a half head in 22.90 seconds.
The treble wrapped up a good couple of days for Price and his wife Karen after Compton Redeemer had won by 6½ lengths at Ballarat over 450 metres in 25.37 seconds the previous night.
Bred by Price, the white and black son of My Redeemer x Headline had previously won his maiden over 305 metres at Tara Raceway in May before being transferred to Pearcedale trainer Kayla Cottrell.
Meanwhile, at Angle Park last Thursday night two other littermates in Nike Apache and Earthworm Jim, raced by Keith and Lisa Hellmuth, also of Pearcedale, ran first and second respectively in heats of the paid-up Brian Johnstone (530 m).
