Michael Niele’s treble at Tara Raceway last Thursday with Late Mail, Arrow Bar Teddy and Bridgewater Bob now has the Berringa trainer well placed to win another Fast Forward series at the Mount Gambier track.
It was back on December 8, 2022 that Niele trained his last local treble with Stormin’ Frank, Problem Angel and Gizmo Osti – the latter gaining a start as a reserve and subsequently winning the added money Fast Forward 400 metre final.
His previous treble at Tara Raceway had been on August 25 when Arrow Bar Teddy, Problem Angel and Reality Pest were successful.
Niele now looks to be strongly represented in this week’s Fast Forward final after last week’s treble wins all came in heats of the 400 metre series and were among the eight fastest times of the five heats.
Late Mail, a son of Bekim Bale and Baurna Sal, settled in second spot in the first of the 1-4 wins heats, the Commercial Hotel Stake, but was giving Turbo Gear a fair start down the back before finishing strongly for a 1¼ length win in 23.58 seconds.
And Arrow Bar Teddy, whose last win had been in the August 25 treble, never looked like being beaten in the second heat, the Greg Martlew Autos Stake, when leading all the way for a 2¾ length win over Mason Lava in 23.32 seconds.
In the final heat, the Exchange Printers Stake, Bridgewater Bob took the Fast Forward time honours when leading virtually all the way and defeating litter sister Gypsy Chick by half a length in 23.28 seconds.
Bridgewater Bob, a last start winner at Healesville, and Gypsy Chick are by Bernardo out of Spirited Bingle and were bred at Portland by Robert Halliday – also the breeder of Late Mail.
Other Fast Forward finalists are Gypsy Chick (Jason Newman), Chasing Poppy (Sandra Elmes), Mason Lava (Noel Perry), Compton Minnie (Tracie Price) and Swirling Miss (Allan Brookes).
Meanwhile, the win of Fernando Louise in the Cadillac Racing Stake (400 m) was Mount Cottrell owner-trainer Paul Cusack’s first local winner since Aston Knox won the Fast Forward final (400 m) on May 12 last year in 23.29 seconds.
A daughter of Fernando Bale and Ice Gambler, Fernando Louise improved on her first-up second at the track the previous week when leading all the way and defeating Little Cadillac by 2¾ lengths in 23.32 seconds.
The lightly-raced August 2019 fawn bitch, who at one stage appeared destined for retirement, has now won four races for Cusack whose first win at Tara Raceway had been back in late 2018 with Gin Lee’s Pride.
And Cusack’s partner, Donna Beasley, who had also trained her last Tara Raceway winner on May 12 last year with Aston Sabelle, also was successful last week with Our Winnie in the Trackside Meats Stake(400m).
A winner at Angle Park and Gawler prior to joining Beasley/Cusack’s kennels in October last year, the daughter of Fernando Bale and Fantastic Winnie also improved on her close-up fourth of the previous week when finishing strongly to defeat Another C
Lorraine lands Women in Racing award
Among the presentations at the recent Sandown Park Women in Racing night was the Marg Thomas Award, given for the most outstanding female contribution to the sport.
And this year it was awarded to Lorraine Finn for her contribution to greyhound racing in Warrnambool and beyond.
“Lorraine is a special person to me and the club,” said Craig Monigatti, Warrnambool Greyhound Racing Club manager.
“She’s so reliable and you just know that what she’s taking care of in the shop is going to be organised and done.
“She does not seek the limelight but now it’s her turn to shine.”
Well known in Mount Gambier greyhound racing circles, Lorraine was at Tara Raceway for last Sunday’s race meeting with her husband Kevin, their daughter Marita Byron and their greyhound Tamborine Girl. adillac by a length in 23.61 seconds.
