Glencoe trainer Dean Fennell still remembers the first winner he trained at the Tara Raceway greyhound track on Lake Terrace East back in July 1997. That was when the track had been operational for only a few months.
The dog in question was Claude’s Mistake who had been bred at Serviceton by Claude Merrett. He won over the 512 metre journey in a time of 31.23 seconds on day when the best had been 31.05 seconds.
Fennell is still training greyhounds to this day and is still experiencing the highs and lows that come with the sport. But following last Thursday’s meeting he would have left the track on a high with his wife Edna, together with three winners – Magic Nancy, Saint Sally and Compton Layla.
His last treble had been back in December 2022 with Glasgow Lass, Pirate Gold and Zoe’s Way. Prior to that in May 2019 he had been successful with Master Moment, Maunganui Havoc and Banjo Lass. Later that year Fennell landed another treble with Perseverance, General Max and Cee Mee Ignite.
Interestingly, Edna Fennell is currently racing two of Perseverance’s first litter by Feral Franky – Magic Mack and Magic Poppy – who are likely to line up in the Sunday, May 4 running of the heats of the age-restricted Autumn Classic (512 m).
At last Thursday’s meeting Magic Nancy, a daughter of Bernardo and Saint Maddie, was chasing her second consecutive 512 metre win at the track following a 4¼ length win over Fawn Beast the previous week in 30.15 seconds.
And jumping from box one in the Williams Crane Hire TG5+W Stake, Magic Nancy led all the way when defeating Ollie Deeds by 6¼ lengths in a time of 30.02 seconds.
Saint Sally, by Tommy Shelby out of Mepunga Prue, had been chasing her first win since last November when contesting the Todd’s Photographics TG5+W Stake (400 m) from box three.
Raced by Peter Byrne of Koroit, the brindle bitch never really looked like being beaten when leading all the way and defeating Time To Burn by 1¼ lengths in 23.78 seconds.
Come the final race, the Icon Signs TG1-4W Stake (400 m), and Fennell had been looking to make it a treble for the day with Compton Layla – in his kennels since mid-February but still having won only one race from 31 starts.
However, the daughter of Feral Franky and Galactic Horizon had been placed at her past three Tara Raceway starts and this had looked to be a winnable race.
And that’s how it played out with Compton Layla leading all the way from box one and defeating Shuffling by 1½ lengths in a time of 23.60 seconds.
From a time-graded meeting point of view the monthly Fast Forward 1-4 Wins heats and finals over 400 metres and 512 metres have been a popular introduction to the Thursday fixtures – especially given they carry Category 2 prize money.
Last Thursday’s Fast Forward was a 512 metre final with a prize money breakdown of $1215, $350 and $175. And Bourne Sid, owned and trained at Allendale East by David Peckham, went to the boxes as a $2 favourite when chasing his fourth consecutive win at the track.
By Superior Panama out of Sweet On Me, Bourne Sid led all the way from box two and never looked like being run down when defeating Mr. Tangelo and Saint Finnie in the Klaassens Contractors sponsored final.
Computer Man, a son of Magical Bale and Tangelo Fire – and Mr. Tangelo’s litter brother – returned to Tara Raceway for the first time this year with Dennington husband and wife team Pat and Patricia Bouchier.
The black dog had won his maiden over 400 metres at Tara Raceway in December in a tidy 23.39 seconds before being well beaten in a couple of runs at Mount Gambier and Warrnambool.
But Computer Man was back with a vengeance last Thursday when tackling the Cadillac Racing TG1-4W Stake (400 m). Away well from box four, he was never going to be beaten, registering one of the biggest wins seen at Tara Raceway in some time – 14 lengths in 23.34 seconds.
Meanwhile, Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club president Noel Perry announced last week the interim club manager Tim Lewis had been appointed club manager by Greyhound Racing SA.
