Gehrig the greyhound only has his name in common with former St Kilda player Fraser Gehrig. He does not support a mullet, and he errs on the side of timid unlike his namesake. And following Sunday’s faultless performance at Longwood, Gehrig and his trainer Scott Stefanos are now the proud winners of the 2020 Longwood Cup as well as an Orson Allen straw. “He is a very good coursing dog, but I didn’t think he would win the Longwood Cup after Imperial Jack went very quick heading into the final…
Author: Editor BOAY
Magic double for Laidlay’s veterans
There wasn’t a Group 1 trophy, huge cheque or track record in sight but a double at Healesville last Friday was about as satisfying as it gets for veteran Devon Meadows trainer Graham Laidlay and wife Pauline. Laidlay, 76, and five-year-olds Challis Magic and Challis Sprite, home-bred Magic Sprite – Challis Miss litter brothers whelped back in April 2015, defied Father Time in a remarkable training performance. Centurion Challis Sprite won his 23rd race at start 102, while the injury-plagued Challis Magic chalked up win number 22 at his 72nd…
Next generation to discuss life as a modern-day trainer
Two of Australia’s brightest young greyhound trainers – Brett Nye and Matt Lanigan – will be part of SEN Track’s exciting new greyhound show, Midweek Meadows tomorrow afternoon from 1pm. The duo will discuss their rapid rise up the training ranks, and what life is like as a modern-day conditioner. Also making a guest appearance on tomorrow’s show will be media personality Liz Whelan, who’ll join hosts Sam Hargreaves and Troy Iwanyk in bringing you the exciting racing action live from The Meadows. Part of 7Mate’s original Thrill of the…
NCA breaks with tradition
The National Coursing Association of Victoria has broken with tradition and will conduct this year’s Victorian Derby and Victorian Oaks on successive Sundays at Longwood – commencing with the first round on June 14. NCAV president Peter Craig says the move is designed to attract more entries for both events, which are for male (Derby) and female (Oaks) ‘puppies’ whelped on or after March 1, 2018. “We’ve been staging the Sylvester Doyle Puppy Championship along these lines and it has achieved the desired result,” he said. “So, we’re going down…
Track record falls at Horsham
The Aloisi Bates Syndicate as well as Rob Camilleri and team now have a track record to celebrate thanks to Kipling who broke the 410m track record at Horsham on Tuesday night. Kipling lowered Time To Talk’s 22.894sec performance set in October last year to a sizzling 22.844sec from box four in the CHS Group Final. “The little fella put the writing on the wall last week on a slow track,” trainer Rob Camilleri said. “I said to the owners after his run last week that he will improve if…
Wonder-ful Winter Cup heats
In-form Victorian duo Whodat Opal and Mepunga Wonder headline heats of the Group Listed Trios Winter Cup (520m) at Cranbourne on Wednesday night, which kick off at 7.48pm. Whodat Opal (Stan Ralph) has won five of her past six starts including a Best of Day 29.92sec win at The Meadows last run after clocking a sizzling 5.02sec first split. Meanwhile, Mepunga Wonder has won 10 of his past 13 starts, predominantly at his home track of Geelong. Five Trios Winter Cup heats will be run, with the series open to…
Stockman rounds up rivals at Warwick Farm
Stockman (far right) wins at Warwick Farm on Monday. Photo: AAP The disappointment of missing out on a Brisbane winter carnival opportunity has been emphasised for a second time in as many starts for staying prospect Stockman (NZ) (Tavistock). Rated a genuine Queensland Derby chance, Stockman had to settle for a win in much lesser grade at Warwick Farm on Monday. Trainer Joe Pride said he had Derby ambitions for Stockman well before the three-year-old announced his arrival with a Randwick win last month. “If there was a Queensland Derby…
Warwick Farm juvenile winner for Proisir
Scenic Warrior winning at Warwick Farm on Monday. Photo: AAP New Zealand-bred two-year-old Scenic Warrior scored a hard-fought maiden win when successful in the Iron Jack Plate (1200m) at Warwick Farm on Monday. The son of Proisir was pressured throughout by eventual runner-up Gunnamatta and the Team Hawkes-trained colt pulled away late to score by just under a length. Scenic Warrior is bred and raced by the Falcone family, who also raced his sire Proisir. Co-trainer Michael Hawkes admitted he was concerned when the runner-up kicked up inside Scenic Warrior…
Windsor Park bids farewell to Falkirk
Former Windsor Park Stud stallion Falkirk. Emotions stirred at Windsor Park Stud recently when their team said their final goodbyes and paid tributes to their old mate and resident sire Falkirk. Succumbing to the infirmities of aging, 20-year-old Falkirk was laid to rest at Windsor Park, the farm where he was born and raised and where he had enjoyed a successful stallion career following equally successful exploits on the racetrack. Falkirk was an unbeaten Group winner in four New Zealand starts before embarking overseas to win further Group races in…
Opacity to have short break before spring
Opacity (closest to camera) on his way to winning at Randwick. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au Trainer John O’Shea has opted not to press on further into winter with promising Ocean Park gelding Opacity. Opacity continued a rise through the grades with a narrow win at Randwick on Saturday in the third start of his campaign, taking his overall record to five wins from seven starts. Immediately after the race O’Shea mentioned Opacity could back up this Saturday in a bid to further boost his rating, but the stable has announced the rising…