Dare To Do, the 4½-year-old greyhound that had not won a race in more than 12 months, found winning form again last week with a record-equalling run in the Winningformula.net.au Stake over 277 metres.

Contesting a Masters event for greyhounds four years and older, the daughter of Goodesy and White Heart led all the way from box one to defeat Villa Maldini by six lengths in a time of 16.19 seconds at Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway.

The time equalled the track record established on May 15, 2010 by the Tracie Price trained Magic Assassin when defeating Nashira in The Border Watch Open Maiden Stake.

Dare To Do is owned at Serviceton by Val Brodhurst, previously a regular along with husband David at Tara Raceway before the border closure in March this year.

David Brodhurst purchased the black bitch for $1100 in mid-2018 after she had won a 460 metres maiden at Warragul. But it would not be until February 2019 that Dare To Do finally found form again – chalking up eight wins by the end of October.

For trainer Dita Mitchell, who re-located to Tarpeena from Crowlands in Victoria four years ago and took the dog for the Brodhursts in April, last week’s win came as a real relief. “This is the first winner I have trained for Val and David and I’m just so happy that Dare To Do has finally been able to win again for them after 13 months without success,” she said.

Mitchell book-ended the meeting, He’s Alexis coming from mid-field early before finishing strongly to defeat Worms Are Biting by a neck in 23.52 seconds in the Swallow Drive Meats Stake (400 m).

Raced by the trainer in partnership with Barry Betts, He’s Alexis, a son of Banjo Boy and the well-performed Alexis Kelton, has now won four races since arriving at Tarpeena in March this year.

The double was Mitchell’s second in as many weeks. With 14 wins, 22 seconds and 19 thirds, she is currently sitting in sixth spot in the Ian Badger Leading Trainer award and enjoying by far her best year at Tara Raceway. Meanwhile, Greyhound Racing SA Racing Manager, Shaun Mathieson, has clarified the time standard procedure in relation to Masters 277 metres non-penalty events currently being run at Tara Raceway.

He said the time standard would initially be 16.64 seconds and if a winning greyhound broke that time it would still be eligible to contest a Masters the following week. “However, consecutive wins under the time standard would then result in the dog missing out on a Masters start at its next nomination before coming back into the mix.” So, in other words, if Dare To Do was to win again this week in a time quicker than 16.64 seconds then she would be unable to contest a Masters at her following start although she could be nominated for any other distance.

Mathieson also said flattened timegraded prizemoney had been considered for Masters non-penalty events. “It’s another option but I think we’ll probably wait until such time as the 305 metres distance is up and running at Mount Gambier before we make any decisions on short-course prizemoney.”

Work on the 305 metres distance has started at Tara Raceway but it’s likely to be early in 2021 before racing starts from the new start. That will mark the end of 277 metres racing at the track with that start then used solely for 732 metres racing.

Rotate set for another crack at cup A second consecutive win over 512 metres at Tara Raceway has Portland greyhound Rotate on track for another crack at the Williams Crane Hire Christmas Cup (512 m).

Owned and trained by Robert Halliday, Rotate ran a big race in last year’s final, finishing four lengths behind Squishy Pea and Smart Knocka in third position in a quick 29.63 seconds.

Back at Tara Raceway following the easing of border restrictions, the son of General Destini and Guru Doll has turned in two big efforts, a fortnight ago railing through to find the front down the back before powering away to a six lengths win over Black Spring in a best of day 30.02 seconds.

And at last week’s meeting Rotate once again found the front down the back straight in the JB Irrigation Open Stake and then held out Tandiki to win by a half-length in a best of day 29.83 seconds.

Heats of this year’s Williams Crane Hire Christmas Cup will be run on Thursday, December 10 with the final on Sunday, December 20.