The introduction of last Thursday’s Fast Forward time-graded series at Tara Raceway threw up something of a surprise when former NSW greyhound Mrs.

Watson ran the fastest of the five 1-4 wins heats over 400 metres.

And, it seems, no one was more surprised than her Mortlake-based owner-trainer Shaun Baulch, a regular at Mount Gambier’s Thursday afternoon meetings.

“Gee, I certainly did not see that coming,” a delighted Baulch said after the blue daughter of Ando’s Mac and Flying Kitty led all the way in the third heat to score an 11¼ lengths win in a best of day 22.92 seconds.

Flying Kitty is a litter sister to Keybow, a winner of 27 races and more than $580,000 in stakemoney.

And for Baulch it was a case of being in the right place at the right time late last year when Mrs.

Watson was advertised as a giveaway.

“She had raced only twice at The Gardens over 272 metres when she was advertised so I figured there could be a bit more improvement in her, especially given her excellent bloodlines,” he said.

The win was Mrs. Watson’s second after she had won her maiden for Baulch last month at Warrnambool over 450 metres.

As far as race times are concerned, she now heads into today’s Fast Forward final with a slight edge over Correlate who clocked 23.13 seconds when defeating her kennelmates Trademark Bourne and Recapture Time.

Formerly trained at Allendale East by David Peckham, Correlate was later transferred to the Langhorne Creek kennels of Tony Hinrichsen who trained a double with Major Tom Fury and Cash Storm.

And Purdeet-based Annette Kampman could not remember the last time she had trained a double after litter sisters Myola Queen and Myola Pocket both scored easy wins in their respective races.

Also bred by Kampman, the October 2019 daughters of Lightning Frank and Pocket Queen both brought up their second wins last Thursday.

Myola Pocket scored a dashing win in the second heat of the Fast Forward and qualified for a run in the final.

The final field of eight was made up of greyhounds running the fastest times in the heats, regardless of their position in those heats.


Sometimes you never know where a winner’s coming from

It was only a couple of weeks ago that Millie Bay won her second race at Tara Raceway for Portland owner-trainer Andy Graham.

By Sulzanti, the fawn bitch is out of Graham’s former smart chaser Cee Anna Rose’s fourth and final litter.

In fact, he rates her as his best dog in a 20-year involvement in greyhound racing.

“Cee Anna Rose raced on only 18 occasions but won six races, including two at The Meadows and ran nine minor placings on Victorian tracks,” he said.

“She’s a daughter of Senni Wendy who I purchased for breeding after she had raced on 94 occasions for 17 wins and $36,000 in stakemoney.”

Millie Bay went around again last Thursday, finding the going pretty tough when running into Mrs. Watson.

However, earlier in the day she did produce her first winner when Graham’s Bay Side won on debut in the Greg Martlew Autos Maiden Stake (400 m).

Actually, two other members of the litter – Sea Storm Bay and See Anna Bay – were also having their first starts in the same race.

But it was Bay Side who led all the way when defeating Cloned by 2½ lengths in a handy 23.46 seconds.

“I had trialled him once over 400 metres and he went around in 23.77 seconds so I figured he was probably worth nominating.

“Most certainly, I was more than happy with his effort today,” Graham said.

By Bad Boy Tex, Millie Bay’s litter was whelped in March 2020.

However, at the time neither the sire nor dam had even been named.

Graham takes up the story.

“I’d purchased Bad Boy Tex as a pup and was rearing him in a run together with Millie Bay.

“To cut a long story short, she came in season, unbeknown to me they mated and I ended up with four pups.

“I have to say, Greyhound Racing Victoria was very good in regard to the naming of the sire and dam and in relation to DNA testing and relevant paper work.

“Now I do not reckon it will be too long before mother and son clash in a race at Tara Raceway.”

Incidentally, according to Graham, Bad Boy Tex never showed any inclination to be a racing dog and was placed in the GAP program.