Aston Olenna’s win in last week’s $5000 Murray Bridge Straight Track Championship (350 metres) saw the lightly-raced 36 kilograms fawn dog claim his second feature at the track this year for Allendale East trainer David Peckham.
Raced by leading owner Ray Borda, Aston Olenna quickly crossed from the outside before taking up the running and going on for a 4¾ lengths win in 18.58 seconds over Shavano with Ransom’s Pride in third place.
The win followed his success back in May in the SA Straight Track Cup.
Whelped in January 2019, the son of Aston Bolero x Aston Selena has raced on only 15 occasions for nine wins and four second placings.
His career kicked off in January at Tara Raceway where he won a heat and the final of the Razza Racing Feature Maiden (305 m).
Aston Olenna’s time in the final of 17.49 seconds is still the fastest run over the short-course distance.
Then, at Murray Bridge’s meeting the following night, the Peckham-trained Maximum Refusal chased Danyo’s Charlie into second position in a heat of the SA National Sprint Championship (530 m).
Maximum Refusal was beaten by 1¾ lengths when running a personal time of 30.02 seconds which was the second-fastest of the two heats.
He has drawn box four in tonight’s $14,275 final.
New Director ‘a valuable asset to GRSA’
The Board of Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA) has announced the appointment of Ben Kavenagh (pictured) to fill the role recently left vacant by former Director Grahame Marshall.
And GRSA Chairman, Grantley Stevens, in speaking on the extent to which Kavenagh’s sports management experience would be a welcome addition to the organisation, said the Directors were looking forward to him joining GRSA in this role.
“His strong sports management background as well as his previous involvement with the greyhound racing industry will make him a valuable asset to GRSA,” he said.
Kavenagh has had direct experience with greyhound racing, having worked for Greyhound Racing Victoria in the early years of his career.
Since then he has worked in CEO and general management roles with leading SA sports organisations including the South Adelaide Football Club, Glenelg Golf Club, Adelaide Lightning and more recently the Adelaide 36ers.
Kavenagh said he was extremely excited to be joining the Board at this key stage in the industry’s evolution.
“I look forward to working with the other Board members and collaborating with owners, breeders, trainers, officials and volunteers to further develop the sport in SA,” he said.
Another big day for Abbott
Another Pick’s dashing all the way win in last Thursday’s Exchange Printers 5+ Wins Stake (512 metres) at Tara Raceway was the culmination of a big day for Edenhope trainer Cap Abbott.
The win, by 5½ lengths over Joe’s Gold in a personal best time of 29.98 seconds, was the long-time trainer’s fourth for the day after Cadillac Prince, Our Bro Paddy and White Cadillac had previously been successful.
Another Pick was purchased as a four-month-old pup by Abbott and Kerry Hawker, the daughter of Unlawful Entry x Proud Fantasy bringing up her eighth local win this year.
She now holds a one point lead over Sianna Magic in the Mount Gambier Greyhound of the Year.
For Abbott, it is a case of chasing his second GOTY title after Black Spring, (13 wins and 74 points), defeated Cryer’s Harper (13, 68) in the 2019 award.
Our Bro Paddy brought up his second consecutive win for owners Hawker and Sarah Price after taking over the running off the back in the Winning Post Supplies 1-4 Wins Stake (400 m).
By My Bro Fabio, the winner is out of Banjo Queen who had been given to Hawker by NSW owner Andrew Varasdi after winning two races in Canberra.
Trained by Price’s father, Tracie, Banjo Queen went on to win a further 12 races at Angle Park and Tara Raceway.
Abbott’s four winners was his best day at the track since December 24 last year when he had been successful with White Cadillac, Black Spring, Mauritian Rascal and Another Pick.
