The winning run of the Sennachie x Serene Rose litter – bred, owned and trained by Bob Wombwell of Coleraine – continued at last Thursday’s time-graded meeting at Tara Raceway.
Eskimo Ruby, having only her fifth race start for 2024 in what has been an interrupted year due to seasonal issues, opened her winning account at start number eight when leading all the way in the Federal Hotel Maiden Stake (305 metres).
On the line the fawn bitch had a length to spare over Galactic Raven in 18.22 seconds. And in winning, Eskimo Ruby became the eighth winner – all raced by Wombwell – from the litter of 11.
There have been a couple of standouts – Eskimo Larry and Eskimo Roger who won 12 races and nine races respectively for prize money of $32,000 and $41,000.
Serene Rose raced on only 19 occasions for two wins at Mount Gambier with Wombwell saying this would be her only litter given that she had been whelped in April 2017.
“I am keen to keep the line going, though,” he said. “One of her pups, Eskimo Fly, has won six races at Horsham and Warrnambool and collected more than $16,000 in prize money so I am seriously considering breeding a litter with her.”
A training/litter double with Tested and Burn The Bend gave Koroit trainer Peter Keane his best day at Tara Raceway since April last year when he landed a treble.
By Shima Shine out of Lulumon, Tested chased Quantum’s Dream for much of the 400 metre journey in the Category 2 Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 Fast Forward before finishing strongly for a length win in 23.49 seconds.
And Burn The Bend, chasing her first win since a maiden success over 400 metres at the track back in December for owner Barry Paton, stormed home for a two length win over Eskimo Moana – a litter sister to earlier winner Eskimo Ruby – in a TG1-4W Stake (512 m) in 30.27 seconds.
Keane’s treble last year comprised Hello Keen, who equalled the 305 metre record with a run of 17.28 seconds, Mighty Molly and Crafter Road.
Katoni’s racing career had kicked off at Tara Raceway back in May 2022 but after stints at Reynella, Murray Bridge and Glenroy the son of Magic Sprite and Majestic Tale finally found himself a permanent home at Rochester with Darren Petersen and Aroha Hemingway.
The black dog was back again last Thursday, but now with 105 starts and 21 wins to his name. And for Hemingway he kicked off a running double when leading all the way and defeating Cadillac Landau by 1¼ lengths in the Carlin & Gazzard Stake (400 m) in 23.43 seconds.
In the following race, the Commercial Hotel Stake (400 m), Hemingway’s Sugar Bowl Rose chased Hot Cadillac into the home straight before finishing strongly for a 1½ length win in 23.24 seconds.
The daughter of Feral Franky and seven-race winner Little Tubbsy is a winner of three races at Shepparton and two at Mount Gambier since Hemingway took over the black bitch’s training at the beginning of February.
The widely-travelled Rochester couple collectively has now won 14 races at Tara Raceway this year.
For the second consecutive time-graded meeting litter sisters Saint Sally and Saint Shell brought up a double for Koroit owner Peter Byrne and Glencoe trainer Dean Fennell.
A brindle daughter of Tommy Shelby and Mepunga Prue, Saint Sally’s win was her fourth at Tara Raceway. Always within striking distance, she finished strongly in the Produce Store TG1-4W Stake (400 m) for a four length win over Zipper His Zip in 23.90 seconds.
And Saint Shell brought up her sixth win when leading all the way in the Icon Signs Stake (512 m), for a 4¼ length win over Sir Patrick in 30.19 seconds.
Heats of a time-graded Fast Forward 1-4 Wins (512 m) will be run today with the Category 2 prize money final run next week.
Kicking off September’s time-graded calendar will be a best to worst grading meeting on Thursday, September 5.
The remainder of the weekly Thursday time-graded meetings for September will be worst to best graded meetings.
