Highlighting Thursday greyhound racing at Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway last week were doubles to Edenhope trainer Kerry Hawker, Tony Hinrichsen of Langhorne Creek and Hamilton-based Tony Harding.
And for Harding, training greyhounds since the late 1990s, it was his first double after Penshurst Lad was successful in the Metal Worx Maiden Stake (305 metres) and half-sister Penshurst Lass in the Carlin & Gazzard MG 5+W Stake (400 m).
By Moreira out of Jimary Siesta, Penshurst Lad led all the way from the outside box when defeating Saint Madix by a half-length in 18.15 seconds – easily a personal best for the February 2021 whelping.
The pint-sized 22½ kilogram Penshurst Lass, a daughter of Lightning Frank, also led all the way for a 2½ length win over Myola Dawn in 23.66 seconds.
Now a winner of seven races, Penshurst Lass is raced by Dennis Peach and Cathy Flahavin who purchased the blue bitch as a pup for $2000 from breeder Brendan Bunworth, formerly of Penshurst.
Jimary Siesta, a winner over 720 metres at Wentworth Park and later over 512 metres at Mount Gambier, found her way into Bunworth’s kennels at the end of 2018.
Penshurst Lad, one of only two pups in the second litter, had initially been pre-trained at Warrnambool.
But later, an appreciative Bunworth, after being unable to sell the unraced black dog, gave him to Harding.
“It was a terrific day for Tony,” he said.
“He had been a great help to me for more than a decade and I was delighted to see him train a ‘Penshurst’ double.
“The late John Burow would have been smiling from ear to ear.”
Hawker’s running double came in races 3 and 4, the Williams Crane Hire 1-4W Stake (400 m) and the Commercial Hotel 1-4W Stake (400 m), with Kerry’s Cadillac and Cadillac Bullet.
For Kerry’s Cadillac it was her fourth win when the daughter of Beast Unleashed and Olivia’s Ruby defeated her fast-finishing litter brother Cadillac Beast by a length in 23.77 seconds.
And Cadillac Bullet, a son of Sennachie x Sly Shiraz, led all the way to defeat another fast-finisher in My Madonna in 23.40 seconds.
Hinrichsen’s Barefoot Rebel scored an impressive win in the Klaassens Contractors 5+W Stake (400 m) when taking the lead off the back and running away to a four length win over rising seven-year-old kennelmate Filthy Phantom at start 332 in 23.13 seconds.
His double came up in the final race, the Rocks Tavern 5+W Stake (512 m), when Loving The Cash defeated Bungaloo Danni by 1¾ lengths in 30.13 seconds.
Hawker’s last double at Tara Raceway had been on November 10 last year with Cadillac Bullet and Cadillac Lloyd.
And for Hinrichsen it was October 6 when last Thursday’s winning pair had also been successful.
Meanwhile, Glenroy trainer Richard Clayfield broke a run of outs when Katoni scored a tidy 2½ lengths win over Cadillac Rocks in 23.35 seconds in the Todd’s Photographics 1-4W Stake (400 m).
The win had been the veteran trainer’s first since Potch, a litter sister to Katoni, was successful in July last year.
In fact, for Clayfield it’s been a case of second time lucky as far as the son of Magic Sprite and Majestic Tale is concerned.
“I had Katoni for breeder-owner Damien Smith for his first six starts,” Clayfield said.
“He ran a few placings but at his sixth start he injured a toe and was returned to Adelaide for an operation.
“A couple of months later he returned to the track and in September won twice up the straight at Murray Bridge.
“But Damien reckoned he was finding it a bit tough up there and suggested another stint in Mount Gambier.
“I thought he was close to another win after his efforts in the recent Fast Forward series where he ran into some handy sort of greyhounds but certainly did not disgrace himself.”
Clayfield has enjoyed his fair share of success with the Majestic Tale stock.
The standout no doubt is the durable Glenville Rose, a member of the first litter whelped in December 2018 by Aston Dee Bee.
Still racing, she has gone around on 133 occasions for 16 wins and 42 minor placings – all at Mount Gambier.
