It was back early last year the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club’s major sponsors, Captain Abbott and Kerry Hawker of Cadillac Kennels, donated a dog pup by Wow out of Another Pick to the club.
To be sold to the highest bidder, the white and brindle dog’s breeding read pretty well with Wow, a son of Fernando Bale x Miss All Class, having won 31 races and accumulated $392,000 in prize money.
And Another Pick, by Unlawful Entry out of Proud Fantasy, won 17 races at Tara Raceway as well as the 2021 Mount Gambier Greyhound of the Year with 12 wins, nine seconds and six thirds for Abbott.
Ultimately, OB Flat owner-trainer Noel Perry purchased the white and brindle dog pup. The only problem then was that he really needed another pup of similar age to rear with his Wow pup, later to be named Rough Boy Rocky.
“With Another Pick’s litter consisting of six dogs and three bitches, I was able to purchase a white and brindle bitch from the Edenhope-based Cadillac Kennels and this certainly made the rearing much easier,” Perry said.
“I had never broken-in any dogs previously – always opting to send them away – so I decided at the appropriate time to have a go myself and break the pair in at the Tara Raceway trial sessions. And while the dog is not yet ready to race, there had been no dramas with his sister, Rough Girl Ruby.”
At last Thursday’s time-graded meeting, Rough Girl Ruby lined up for her first race start from box eight in the Todd’s Photographics Maiden Stake over 305 metres.
A $15 chance, it did not take her long to find the front and from then on the result was never in doubt as she raced to the line with 2¾ lengths to spare over the $1.50 favourite Fernando Lee in 18.14 seconds.
Langhorne Creek training couple Yvonne King and Tony Hinrichsen landed a double on the day with Phantom Carat, successful for the first time at Tara Raceway, and Zip Along Lulu.
Phantom Carat, a daughter of Filthy Phantom, led all the way from box five in the Icon Signs Fast Forward first heat when defeating Hotfoot Cuddles by 2½ lengths in 24.11 seconds. Filthy Phantom was trained by Hinrichson and raced on 345 occasions for 38 wins and 124 minor placings.
And in the final event, the Gordon Refrigeration TG5+W Stake (400 m), Zip Along Lulu led all the way from box three, registering an impressive five length win over Red To Burn in 23.44 seconds.
Galactic Jinn, a daughter of Feral Franky and Galactic Horizon, brought up her first win this year for Compton owner-trainer Robert Chuck when successful in the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 TG1-4W Stake (400 m).
Always on the pace, Galactic Jinn, who was chasing her third success overall, finished strongly in the home straight when running down Deadly Dave for a 1½ length win in 23.57 seconds.
Deadly Dave is owned and trained at Warracknabeal by Robert Taylor who won last month with the son of Bernardo and Close Enough at Horsham over 410 metres.
Actually, Taylor’s involvement with Tara Raceway goes back to 2014, together with owner Gordon Thompson and a dog called Noble Haste.
The Taylor-trained Noble Haste was having his first start at the track on Sunday, April 6 in the Barry’s Door Services Stake, a grade six stake over 512 metres.
And the son of Heston Bale x Mandy Shiraz led all the way from box four when defeating Nicole Stanley’s Wyndham Star by eight lengths in a best of day time of 29.77 seconds.
Interestingly, the prize money breakdown for all 10 races on the 400 metre and 512 metre program was $545, $160 and $80.
Meanwhile, due to maintenance work at Tara Raceway being scheduled for this week, Thursday’s race meeting (June 12) has been cancelled.
The next scheduled race meeting will now be on Sunday, June 15.
