Durable greyhound Black Spring, a barnstorming winner over 600 metres at Tara Raceway last Thursday and one of five winners for Compton trainer Tracie Price, has packed plenty into his two years on the racetrack.
Owned throughout his career by Cap Abbott of Edenhope, Black Spring – the 2019 Mount Gambier Greyhound of the Year – has now gone around on 110 occasions for 22 wins, 40 minor placings and more than $34,000 in stakemoney.
For Abbott, a great supporter of greyhound racing in Mount Gambier, it had been a case of having to make a call on his rising four-year-old son of Spring Gun and Lektra Scarlett after border restrictions had been imposed.
“Initially, he was with my daughter Julie (Ward) at Coomboona and although he did win at Horsham we found it very hard to find suitable races for him in Victoria,” said Abbott, who trained Black Spring until the end of April.
“So in late July I sent him over to Tracie to train”
And with three wins and five minor placings from 10 starts at the local track since then it would appear that he’s appreciating being back at his ‘home track’.
“He’s a dog that has given me an immense amount of pleasure.
“Not only does he have a beautiful temperament but what I like about him is that he just keeps trying.”
His 53⁄4 lengths win over Close Your Eyes in last week’s Bartholomew Pick 6 mixed stake in 35.31 seconds continued his outstanding middle-distance form at Tara Raceway where he has raced on 16 occasions for 11 wins and four minor placings.
Price’s other four winners were Revved Up Rocket, Wan Chai, Falcon Heavy and Elle Limes, making for his biggest day at the track this year.
Revved Up Rocket, a son of Peter Rocket x Stylish Moment, found the front down the back in the Winmore Greyhound Kennels Maiden (400m) before running out a 43⁄4 lengths winner over Another Pick in 24.00 seconds.
Wan Chai stepped out at Tara Raceway for the first time on the back of three short course wins in Adelaide.
Quickly into stride from box five in the Swallow Drive Meats Stake (400m), the white and black dog was in front at the distance boxes.
From then on he was never in any danger of defeat, eventually running out a 51⁄4 lengths winner over Connor’s Choice in 23.24 seconds for Ironbank breeder/owner Les Stewart.
By Banjo Boy, Wan Chai is out of 15-race winner Aunty Chopper, the litter also including Air Marshall, a winner of 18 races and third behind Coorong Lucy in a heat of last Thursday night’s Adelaide Cup at Angle Park.
Wan Chai is also a half-brother to former top local performer Wanchai Express who was a finalist in the 2019 Mount Gambier Cup for Stewart and Portland trainer Nicole Stanley.
Falcon Heavy’s win in the Progreyhoundtips.com Stake (400m) was the start of a good day for the Peter Rocket x Headline litter which was also bred by Price.
Despite an average star t from box two, it didn’t take Falcon Heavy long to find the front from box two, the black dog then careering away to a 73⁄4 lengths win over Fernando Deeds in a personal best time of 23.17 seconds.
Later, over at Warrnambool, litter brother Burn Time scored a big win for Pearcedale trainer Keith Hellmuth in a Special Event (650m).
This was the white and black dog’s 11th win and took his earnings to more than $36,000.
Elle Limes wrapped up Price’s big day when taking up the running off the back from Dare To Do in the South Eastern Hotel Mixed Stake (512m).
She then went to the line strongly to defeat kennelmate Charming Charlie by 21⁄2 lengths in a personal best 29.85 seconds.
Raced locally by Bernie Bouchier, the win was the seventh at Tara Raceway this year for the daughter of Spring Gun and Grimsby Girl.
Meanwhile, that night litter brother Cryer’s Spring worked home well to finish fourth in a heat of the Warrnambool to The Meadows (450m) and earn a spot in Saturday night’s $6540-to-the-winner final (525m) at the city track.
Raced by Margaret Cryer of Apsley, Cryer’s Spring is trained by Stanley who is keen to get the brindle dog back to Tara Raceway once the border restriction is lifted.
