Go Quantum, who has been with five trainers and raced in three states during his 88-start career which has spanned two and a half years, is now set to stay put.
This is according to Go Quantum’s current trainer, Paul Cusack of Mount Cottrell, who was successful with the fawn dog at Tara Raceway last Thursday in the Greg Martlew Autos Stake (400 metres).
Always on the pace, the son of Fernando Bale x As It Goes railed through on the home turn and held out Cash Storm to score by a head in 23.29 seconds.
The win gave Cusack his first Mount Gambier win since Pepe Power in May last year.
Speaking after the race, he said 18-race winner Go Quantum, who he races in partnership with Donna Beasley, finally deserved a permanent residence.
“He’s certainly been around a bit. He won his maiden at Sandown Park before returning to Adelaide where he was bred,” Cusack said.
“But he was only there for about three months, winning at Angle Park before returning to Victoria and finding his way into my kennels.
“Initially I was training Go Quantum for about 12 months during which time he won nine races.
“This included wins at Sandown Park and The Meadows.
“Then he was sold and spent the next six months in Darwin where he won six races before I took over his ownership last November.
“Today was his first win for me since he was successful at The Meadows in April last year over 600 metres.”
Cusack, who is currently training greyhounds on a full-time basis, won his first race at Tara Raceway with Gin Lee’s Pride in November 2018.
Meanwhile, a change of tack by Koroit trainer Ray Mahony and Peter Crawley of Mortlake paid dividends at last Thursday’s meeting when Tapering Off and King Cujo were successful.
It had been last July that Tapering Off had previously won for Mahony.
And with the long-time trainer struggling with his son of Barcia Bale and Tear Away Babe at Sunday Category 2 meetings this year he opted for the time-graded format.
It was a good move.
As is usually the case, the black dog was still only fairly away but he settled in third spot down the back before taking the lead turning for home in the Winning Post Supplies Stake (512 m).
In the end, Mahony was back among the winners after Tapering Off had three-quarters of a length to spare over the Beasley/Cusack pair of Aston Sabelle and Aston Knox in 30.49 seconds.
Crawley’s King Cujo was $1.33 in the Produce Store Stake (512 m).
A far cry from three of his previous four starts when he was a $100 chance.
Perhaps not surprising given he was taking on Whole Way, Right Way and Departure Gate.
But the son of Lightning Frank x Jimary Siesta always had last Thursday’s race in his keeping, leading all the way and defeating Saint Ellie by 3¼ lengths in 30.33 seconds.
Jimary Siesta was a 720 metres winner at Wentworth Park and also won at Mount Gambier over 512 metres in early 2019.
She is a granddaughter of Al Fresco, also the dam of Mantra Miss, a former 732 metre record holder at Tara Raceway.
Granite Belt, trained at Langhorne Creek by Tony Hinrichsen, kicked off a big day for the Key Bow x Velocity Lilly litter – bred by Ben Weidenbach at Cockatoo Valley.
Having his second start at the track, the black dog led all the way in the Gambier Vets Maiden Stake (400 m), eventually running out an 8¼ lengths winner over See Harvey in 23.43 seconds.
The win has Velocity Lilly currently sitting on top of the Mount Gambier leading dams’ list with 10 winners.
That night at Angle Park, Weidenbach’s litter brother Super Cobra gave a great front-running display in the 530 metre maiden when winning by 6¼ lengths for local trainer Jason Newman of Moorak.
The win was a good start for the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club’s three leading trainers – Tracie Price, David Peckham and Newman – at away tracks.
The following day at Murray Bridge Price landed an early running double when Tara Raceway 400 metre record holder Minnie Banjo and Victory Chase were successful over 395 metres.
And later, Peckham was successful with Aston Noah and Aston Value.
