Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club president and owner-trainer, Noel Perry, will today be chasing a clean sweep of July’s Fast Forward 400 metre and 512 metre mixed series at Tara Raceway.
Back on July 13 he had Chief Pow Wow engaged in box one in the Cadillac Racing Fast Forward final over 400 metres – a non-penalty event carrying Category 2 prize money.
And the son of Fernando Bale and Shall She Rock was always on the pace before railing through in the home straight and pinching a half-head win over Tanya Bialek’s Bulsara in 23.56 seconds.
Then, in last Thursday’s Fast Forward first heat over 512 metres, the Perry owned and trained Mason Lava scored an 8¼ length win over Compton Minnie in a personal best time of 30.23 seconds.
Mason Lava is by US sire Superior Panama out of Annie Lava, a daughter of another US sire in DJays Octane and is related to heat two winner Saint Milly who defeated Spot On Yvonne by 3½ lengths in 30.50 seconds for Glencoe trainer Dean Fennell.
By Aston Kimetto, Saint Milly is out of Miss Lava, a litter sister to Annie Lava.
Meanwhile, Edenhope trainer Captain Abbott kicked off last Sunday’s Anniversary Cup meeting with a win with Top Cadillac in the Swallow Drive Meats Maiden Stake over 512 metres.
Having only his second race start, Top Cadillac settled in second spot early behind Decent Guy before taking over down the back and running out a 2¼ length winner in 30.20 seconds.
The fact the January 2022 whelping finished off the race strongly is perhaps not all that surprising given that he is by Feral Franky out of Establish, the dam of former top SA stayer Sir Truculent whose career spanned 128 starts for 46 wins and more than $440,000 in prize money.
And according to Abbott it was by pure chance that he happened to come by Top Cadillac after he had been one of two advertised for sale in NSW as an unnamed 10 month old pup.
“Apparently Establish, after being mated and missing a couple of times, had been returned to NSW where she eventually whelped to Feral Franky.
“By pure chance I spotted a for sale advertisement for the two pups from the litter with an asking price of $8000 each.
“I enquired about them but was told they had both been sold.
“I did say to the seller that if anything happened in regard to the sale would he let me know.
“Anyway, the sale of one of the pups fell through and I ended up with a black pup that now races as Top Cadillac.”
Abbott now has his sights set on next month’s Winter Classic, an age-restricted series over 512 metres for all greyhounds whelped on or after July 1, 2021.
First run in 2014 when won by Stylish Moment, this year’s non-penalty classic, sponsored by Carlin & Gazzard, will kick off with the heats on Sunday, August 20 and the $6500 final a week later.
“He could be giving away up to six months in age,” Abbott said.
“But the 512 metres certainly does not appear to worry him.
“And the good thing is that being a January whelping he will not be giving away anything as far as age is concerned when the Summer Classic – for greyhounds whelped on or after January 1, 2022 – comes around in February next year.”
