A smile from ear to ear told the story at Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway time-graded meeting last week when recently-licensed Allendale East greyhound trainer Kev Patzel landed his first winner with his first runner.
Former NSW chaser Wario was the dog.
And the son of Pindari Express and Fiery Crash never looked in any danger of defeat when leading all the way for a 4½ length win over Knight Vader in a best of day 23.27 seconds in the Williams Crane Hire Stake (400 metres).
Actually, Wario had previously won at the local track back in May when trained by David Peckham while Patzel, 37, waited on the issuing of his trainer’s licence by Greyhound Racing SA.
Look, I was well aware that he had come over here with a few hang-ups but when he’s on song he goes pretty well with both his wins being in best of day times. Mind you, last week’s was pretty special given it was my first as a trainer,” Patzel said.
But really, I’d like to have a couple in work so I’m now on the lookout for another one to join Wario.”
The Patzel family has a long involvement with the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club. Kev’s father, Ralph, until not so long ago was still driving the lure on race days at Tara Raceway.
He won the first race with Aqualair at the club’s opening meeting at Glenburnie on July 21, 1979. He also won a race with Southern Gold at the final Glenburnie meeting on November 30, 1996. Son and brother, Darryl, also won a race at Glenburnie’s final meeting with Kouta Kelly.
Ralph Patzel also trained Ashanti Gem, winner of the first Mount Gambier Cup run at the Lake Terrace East venue in 1997. And Kev’s mother, Carol, was club secretary in 1996-97.
Meanwhile, Tim Richards, of Meningie, enjoyed his best day at Tara Raceway since November 2021 when he had trained four winners – He’s On Fire, He’s All Purpose, Crush Your Enemy and Two Hands George.
Last week he landed an early litter treble with Manner Of Strife, Flash Gordon and Ricki’s Burner before ending the day with a win by Sir Patrick, successful for the first time since late January.
The littermates are by Flying Ricciardo out of Gold Burner who raced on 53 occasions for six wins and 18 minors. And there’s plenty of winning form around the breeding with Gold Burner’s litter sister, Coorong Lucy, winning 37 races and $153,000 in prize money.
Manner Of Strife, chasing his first win at start number nine, overcame an ordinary start in the Winning Post Supplies Maiden Stake (305 m) and finished too strongly for Demonic Spirit to win by a neck in 18.02 seconds.
Flash Gordon was too good for Back Ruby in the Carlin & Gazzard Stake (305 m) when running 18.20 seconds. And in the Gordon Refrigeration Stake (400 m) Ricki’s Burner looked impressive when leading all the way for a five length win over Mavie in 23.37 seconds.
Richards’ first Mount Gambier winner was back in December 2017 with Allen Paul. And plenty of success has since followed with a SA Country Cup win, classic and memorial wins, and a 400 metre track record of 22.55 seconds by Almighty Stripe in April 2021.
And Thursday Tara Raceway time-graded meetings will undergo a slight change from August with the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club programming its first Thursday of the month meeting as a best to worst fixture.
The remainder of the Thursday meetings for the month will be graded as worst to best as is the case now.
This is part of Greyhound Racing SA’s commitment to long-term animal welfare solutions, the Racing Department continuing to investigate options to provide ongoing racing opportunities for greyhounds of all abilities.
