Ian Bibby, Horsham Greyhound Racing Club president for more than 10 years, had made one of his occasional visits over to Mount Gambier the previous week with his five-year-old greyhound Crymelon Comet.
Chasing his first win since last November over at Horsham, the brindle dog served it up to Cadillac Landau over 400 metres before going down by half a length in 23.48 seconds.
Bibby and his travelling companion Gil Arnold then returned for last Thursday’s time-graded meeting with Crymelon Comet for the Produce Store TG5+W Stake (400 m) and went one better when he defeated Cadillac Lloyd by 2 lengths in 23.72 seconds.
The win was his trainer’s first at Tara Raceway since Crymelon Spirit won there 13 months ago.
And as he tells it, there’s an interesting story surrounding the son of Hawk Alone and Crymelon Holly who has now raced on 125 occasions for 12 wins and $53,000 in prize money.
“Crymelon Holly looked set for a bright future after winning first up in January 2017 at Warrnambool over 390 metres in a quick 22.08 seconds.
But she broke down at her third race start and never raced again.
“For her first litter we mated her with Barcia Bale.
Her second litter, by $329,000 winner Hawk Alone, was bred by Mark Rodgers of Cressy and for a third litter we used Zambora Brockie.
“We ended up with three of the Hawk Alone litter – Crymelon Comet being the pick of them,” said Bibby.
“And when he won at Horsham in December 2022 over 485 metres in a quick 26.87 seconds we started to give serious consideration to the forthcoming 2023 Horsham Cup.
“As a lead-up to the cup we took him to Ballarat for a hit-out.
“And while we were more than happy with the run, he broke a leg in the catching pen.
“Subsequent veterinary advice suggested he would not race again.”
And while these days he carries a stainless steel plate in the leg as a result of the accident he has still been able to win a further two races.
A couple of races later, in the Exchange Printers TG5+W Stake (400 m), Bibby had the six-year-old Butternut racing out of box eight.
There was no joy there but really he’s only filling in time until the daughter of David Bale and Pah Leeze comes in season.
“She’s won 11 races at Bendigo, Warragul, Shepparton, Mandurah, Horsham and Warrnambool and I’m now looking at mating her with Crymelon Comet,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nathan Goodenough, based in the Adelaide suburb of Queenstown, has been involved with greyhounds in an on again-off again fashion for more than 20 years.
And accompanied by his brother Josh, he was back at Tara Raceway last Thursday with three of his six-dog team – Stilton Doll, Oregon Favors and Kota Lambai.
The last time Goodenough had been at Tara Raceway was back in September 2021 when he had landed his first double with Razzle Ann and Shantui’s Ember.
The brothers did not go home empty-handed last week either after Oregon Favors led all the way from box one in the Commercial Hotel TG1-4W Stake (512 m) when defeating Bernardo’s Boy by a length in 30.16 seconds.
By US sire Need My Moneynow out of three-race winner La La Oregon, the brindle dog was purchased from Victoria after having won three races.
“He was purchased by a syndicate of 10 owners,” said Goodenough who had been looking for a 512 metre dog.
“I had actually brought him down for a confidence boosting run at Tara Raceway with today being his first win for us.”
