Kongorong trainer John Little, who earlier this month landed the time-graded 400 metre Fast Forward at Tara Raceway with $62 chance Bungaloo Rachele, now looks a strong chance of taking out the 512 metre equivalent with litter brother Bungaloo Darcy.
Contesting the second of two heats at last Thursday’s meeting, the son of Fabregas and Springvale Alysa led all the way when holding out Four Longnecks for a head win in the Bartholomew Pick 6 Mixed Series in 30.13 seconds.
In the first heat the Tracie Price trained Compton Mia also led all the way in the Exchange Printers Mixed Series for a 1¾ length win over kennelmate Compton Angel in 30.41 seconds.
The Fast Forward final concept, which comprises eight greyhounds running the fastest times in the heats regardless of their finishing positions, has been popular with trainers given they are non-penalty and pay Sunday prize money.
Meanwhile, Horsham trainer Bill Hartigan, whose last winner at Tara Raceway had been back on July 15, 2021 with Dashing Pedro, was successful with Phantom Patch in the Commercial Hotel Stake (400 m).
By Walk Hard out of Avatar Minty, the Rick Boehm-bred black and white dog led all the way for a three length win over Cadillac Bullet in a tidy time-graded time of 23.15 seconds.
The 63-year-old Hartigan, who has been involved with greyhounds since he was 15, picked up Phantom Patch as a giveaway at breaking-in stage.
“Tracie Price trained him initially for a maiden win at Mount Gambier before he came back to Horsham where my wife Helen and I have since won two races and continue to have a bit of fun with him,” Hartigan said.
The Truck rolls into town
What better way to kick off this year’s Carlin & Gazzard Mount Gambier Cup heats on Sunday than with a staying race over 732 metres?
Especially when it includes Sir Truculent – or The Truck as he is often referred to.
His 65-year-old owner-trainer Wally Harkins of Jervois was down with the 126-start veteran who boasts a race record of 45 wins, 22 seconds and 19 thirds and – wait for it – stakemoney of $439,700.
And the December 2017 whelping never really looked in any danger of defeat in Sunday’s Exchange Printers Stake when leading all the way and defeating a game Blazing Beth by three lengths in a handy 43.56 seconds.
By Worm Burner out of Establish, Sir Truculent was bred by Harkins who actually sold the black dog as a 12-week-old pup to a NSW owner.
“I reared him and later he broke-in fairly well although he was always doing his best work at the finish over 500 metres.
“And some time later the owner decided he wanted to sell Sir Truculent as he was getting back in his races and tended to find a lot of traffic.
“I suggested he wait until the dog got up over a bit more ground before he thought about selling.
“But as he had already paid his way he was more than happy to move him on so I purchased him for his original selling price of $2000.”
Once Sir Truculent stepped out over 700 metres it all started to happen – a Queensland Gold Cup, a Garrards Gold Cup, and numerous Group placings over the distance, including a second in a Bold Trease.
Harkins said some people had suggested it was probably time that he retired Sir Truculent.
“At one stage I had him on the couch for four months but that did not really work because when I headed off to the track without him he would carry on something shocking.”
Involved in greyhound racing for 50 years, Harkins said there had been some handy dogs along the way although he believed he had probably wasted too much of his time in the sport with giveaway greyhounds.
“Mind you, I reckon The Truck has been worth the wait.”
And following the running of the seven Mount Gambier Cup heats (512 m), local hopes Lochinvar Cahill and Aston Ziebell drew boxes one and two respectively in Sunday’s $36,000 final for Allendale East trainer David Peckham.
Leading local trainer Tracie Price of Compton has drawn box eight with Sister Roberta while Mr.
Anderson took time honours with a run of 29.41 seconds for Avalon trainer Daniel Gibbons and local part-owners Jason Newman and Melissa Freitag.
