It took a while – 12 starts in fact – but Saint Tommy certainly made up for lost time at last Thursday’s time-graded meeting at Tara Raceway.
In the Glencoe kennels of Dean and Edna Fennell since mid-October the son of Tommy Shelby and Mepunga Prue was having only his third start since transferring from Koroit breeder-owner Peter Byrne.
The black and white dog went into Thursday’s first race – the Exchange Printers Maiden Stake (400 metres) – on the back of an 8 ½ length third placing behind Moonlight Sid in a quick 23.01 seconds at the previous Sunday meeting.
But this was always going to be his day, Saint Tommy coming out running from box four before registering a 14 ½ length resounding win over Always Hope in a more than tidy 23.26 seconds.
In race two, the Metal Worx Maiden Stake (305m), Captain Rosie ran right up to her pedigree when leading all the way at start number five for a 3 ¼ length win over coming winner Magic Tom in a quick 17.57 seconds.
Raced by The Nineofus Syndicate and trained at Allendale East by David Peckham, Captain Rosie is by US sire Superior Panama out of Sweet On Me, a winner of 21 races which included the 2020 Mount Gambier Summer Classic.
Later in the day, litter sister and “charity greyhound” Mocambora Mia led all the way when defeating Cadillac Queen by 3 ½ lengths in the Gambier Vets TG1-4W Stake (40m) in a time of 23.49 seconds.
The brindle bitch is owned and trained at Cape Bridgewater by Scott Blacksell, who donated $100 to the Mia Powell Tara Tipsters charity jar after Mocambora Mia won her maiden on August 3.
After last week’s win he added a further $50 to the Visually Impaired Club of Mount Gambier.
The third maiden of the day was the Williams Crane Hire Maiden Stake (305m).
It was Zombieland, owned and trained at Compton by Robert Chuck, who won on debut in the tidy time of 17.79 seconds.
The nicely-bred February 2022 son of Hooked On Scotch and Miss Bellawood was purchased as a pup by Chuck, along with litter sister Blue Phoenix who is expected to debut later this month.
Another member of the Adelaide-bred litter to find its way down to the south east is Just Alfie, raced by the Bartholomew family.
The blue dog won on debut on October 29 when defeating Moonlight Sid by 1 ¼ lengths over 400 metres in 23.37 seconds.
Meanwhile, at Sunday’s meeting it was first starter Barra Banjo who just held out kennelmate Aston Cherokee for a narrow win in the Commercial Hotel Stake (400m) in 23.44 seconds for Compton trainer Tracie Price.
By Fernando Bale, Barra Banjo is out of El Rapido, also the dam of 17-race winner Mister Banjo (by Zambora Brockie) who later on Sunday finished third in the Newman McDonnell Memorial final won by Malevolent Girl.
In the Hyland Fox Juvenile Stake (400m), the Price-trained Wild Banker, a son of US sire Need My Moneynow and Wild Marilyn, continued to impress when leading all the way and defeating Just Alfie by 4 ½ lengths in 22.90 seconds.
Every hero needs a sidekick!
For those looking for a super pet, a greyhound can be your own canine superhero.
But every hero needs a sidekick – so why not become one by adopting a greyhound?
To make things easier, Greyhounds As Pets, an initiative of Greyhound Racing SA, is conducting an Adoption and Foster Day at Tara Raceway, Lake Terrace East, Mount Gambier on Saturday, November 25 between 11 a.m. and 1pm.
This will be an opportunity to come along and meet the greyhounds and learn more about the GAP program.
With greyhounds available to adopt, it will also offer the opportunity to potentially add a new member to the family!
Please visit gapsa.org.au for more information on adopting a greyhound.
