No doubt, local owners Michael Robinson, Willie Vossen and Tracie Price would have been hoping for further success down the track after their former smart bitch Tandiki had been mated with Aussie Infrared in early 2022.
After all, in a 58 start career, the white and black daughter of Peter Rocket and Headline had won the 2021 Mount Gambier Anniversary Cup (512 metres) as well as 17 other races over distances ranging from 400 metres to 600 metres.
And on April 13, 2022 Tandiki whelped a litter of four – one of them, a black bitch going by the racing name of Compton Kelly, now raced by Robinson, Vossen and Price – and trained by the latter.
Compton Kelly won a couple of races at Tara Raceway in late 2023 and another one early in the New Year before being successful again in March.
A string of minor placings then followed but between April and October she raced on only one occasion.
Michael Robinson takes up the story.
“Compton Kelly resumed in a 400 metre event on October 31 last year and it was a big thrill when she finally broke through for another win after leading all the way in a best of day time of 23.27 seconds.
“But the joy was short-lived as she injured herself again and was off the scene again until January 12 this year when she resumed from box one over 400 metres. And wasn’t that a circus!
“Stewards declared her race a no race when Compton Kelly fell shortly after the start.
“The lure driver had been instructed to pull the lure up as she had been left in a vulnerable position on the track.
“Following a post-race veterinary examination, she was stood down for 60 days.
“To be honest, we really thought she would not race again but at her sixth start back she won again last Thursday when defeating Cadillac Magic in the Federal Hotel TG5+W Stake (400 m).
“It certainly goes without saying that Tracie has done an outstanding job to once again get Compton Kelly back on the track and among the winners.”
Meanwhile, Penshurst owner-trainers John Cameron and Brendan Casey were among the winners at the time-graded meeting with Kahu who was successful in the Winning Post Supplies TG1-4W Stake (400 m) and Flax Mill in the Metal Worx TG1-4W Stake (512 m).
Kahu, a son of Allen Deed and Little Queeny and the rank outsider at $18, led all the way from box five when defeating Rough Girl Nosey by 4¼ lengths in a personal best time of 23.45 seconds.
Flax Mill, chasing his first win this year, was always on the pace when scoring a length win over Yadillah Warrior in 30.31 seconds. Earlier in the day, Casey’s Penny Pinto had run second to Anna Rhode in the Cadillac Racing TG5+W Stake (512 m), beaten 2¼ lengths in 30.10 seconds.
Raced by Warrnambool father and daughter team, Kevin Finn and Marita Byron, 11-race winner Anna Rhode is a daughter of Fernando Bale and Delta Rhode and also the dam of two dog pups by Bernardo, whelped in April 2024.
And in the race prior, the Commercial Hotel TG1-4W Stake (305 m), Anna Rhode’s younger half-sister Lena Rhode led all the way after gaining a start as a reserve when defeating Myola Thalia by a length in 17.87 seconds.
By Feral Franky, Lena Rhode is trained at Compton by Tracie Price for Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley.
Painswick trainer Sandra Elmes landed her first Tara Raceway double in more than five years when Maggie May and Classy Willow were successful at last Thursday’s meeting.
Actually, it was a case of half-sisters Maggie May and Misty Autumn running the quinella in the Produce Store Maiden Stake (305 m).
By Aston Dee Bee out of Avatar Minty, Maggie May finished strongly to defeat Misty Autumn (by My Redeemer) by a half-length in 18.45 seconds.
In the Gordon Refrigeration TG1-4W Stake (400 m), Classy Willow led all the way from box eight and brought up her first win for this year when defeating Aston Colette by four lengths in 23.62 seconds.
By Tommy Shelby out of Pink Martini, Classy Willow’s last win had been in a maiden at Bendigo over 425 metres last December. And Elmes’ last local double in December 2019 with Lil Black Jess and Go Nikki.
