The week that was
The Heats of the rich Illingworth Classic on Monday night kicked off an exciting week of greyhound racing around the state.
Major Innings, trained by Graeme Lawson set the bar high in the opening heat running the fastest of those to qualify for Monday night’s final scoring by 3 3/4-length and stopping the clock at 29.72 seconds, while the Gary Johnson-prepared Buckle Up Kiona took full advantage of box one to get home by 3/4 of a length in a smart 30.15 seconds.
Launceston Breeders Classic winner Flash Comet continued her unbeaten run in Launceston for Ricky Martin bounding away to score by 1 1/2- lengths in a personal best time of 29.92 seconds with Rip The Bandaid from the Ted Medhurst kennel running 29.98 seconds to win by 1 1/2 lengths.
Paul Hili enjoyed a flying start to the NWGRC meeting on Tuesday landing a winning double with Dyna Double One-Dominator Girl first starters Nitro Jane and Nitro Sambar.
Nitro Sambar, owned by harness racing driver Samantha Freeman, looked ultra-impressive scoring by nine lengths in a blistering 25.71-second debut performance.
Muppet continued her amazing run for John Pearce in the Hobart Invitation, jumping to the front but then being forced to fight back after being headed by Ozzie Oscar in the middle stages.
Muppet’s last four runs in Hobart have resulted in three wins including the Easter Cup running times of 25.75, 25.84, 25.83 and 25.86 seconds.
Backed and delivered the goods
Hobart (Thursday 18)
Outlaw Teddy – Anthony Bullock – ($3.20 – $2.70) – showed its explosive early speed to make it two on the trot.
Two Bills – Gavin Whitney – ($1.85 – $1.75) – made his debut performance over 340 metres and destroyed his rivals by 6 3/4 lengths.
More Despondent – Eileen Thomas ($5 – $4) – brought up a winning hat-trick with a narrow victory over Koko.
Launceston (Monday)
Plyometric – Michael Sherriff ($6 – $6.50) – blew its opponents away with a blistering turn of speed at box rise to win by five lengths.
Buckle Up Kiona – Gary Johnson ($5.50 – $5) – took out its heat of the Illingworth with a courageous victory from box one.
Frunesco – Susan Gittus ($3.60 – $3.30) – dazzling return to the track after a two-month lay-off.
Devonport (Tuesday)
Nitro Sambar – Paul Hili ($4.80 – $2.50) – heavily backed and was never in doubt winning by nine lengths in a sizzling 25.73-second debut performance.
Buckle Up Carter – Gary Johnson ($6.50 – $4.80) – rewarded for its consistency with a neck victory in 26.01 seconds.
Pamplona – Anthony Bullock ($2.50 – $2.25) – made it two wins for the week finishing over the top of More Despondent to score by a 1 1/2 lengths.
Hobart (Thursday 25)
Twirler – Sam Page ($2.30 – $2.15) – bounced back to winning form by holding out his opposition in the run to the first bend over the 340 metres and skipping right away down the stretch.
Alolo Miss – Anthony Bullock ($21 – $10) heavily supported and flew the lids before being headed by Twisted Manny but she recaptured the lead and bounded away for a solid win.
Roo’s Elbry – Blake Pursell ($3.30 – $2.50) – charged into the first bend from the 340-metre boxes and exploded away from the field in the home stretch to win by 4 1/4 lengths.
Stars of the week
Hobart – (Thursday 18)
Bronelly Jacob – Anthony Bullock – powered home to victory along the rail to score impressively by 3/4 of a length after giving away a big start turning for home in the Easter Purse.
Muppet – John Pearce – scorching Easter Cup display to spear away from a quality field headed by Stop Line.
Jalla Romelda – Susan Gittus – Top win in Easter Plate, pushed up from box one and overcame a check on the home turn to score.
Launceston (Monday night)
Major Innings – Graeme Lawson – fastest qualifier for the Illingworth Classic with an awesome display in opening heat, running 29.77 seconds, scoring by 3 3/4 lengths.
Flash Comet – Ricky Martin – Launceston Breeders Classic winner remains unbeaten on the track, slicing nine lengths off her previous best time, running 29.92 seconds.
Hogwash – Craig French – used its explosive early speed to set up a winning break, scoring by 5 1/2 lengths in 29.96 seconds.
Devonport (Tuesday)
Slingshot Sambo – Blake Pursell – broke through for a well-deserved 6 3/4 length victory after a string of placings.
Toss The Dice – Gary Johnson – gave nothing else a chance running a slick 25.85 seconds, winning by six lengths on its home track.
Landlord – Allan Clark – sat up handy to the first turn before putting the paw down off the back to win by 6 1/2 lengths in 25.72 seconds.
Hobart (Thursday 25)
Dahlhaus – Blake Pursell – continued his outstanding form to jump clear over 599 metres and runaway to win by 5 3/4 lengths in 34.44 seconds.
Sassy Pak – Wayne Smith – settled second to Kayda Affair into the first turn before over-powering the leader late to remain undefeated in the state, winning four of four.
Muppet – John Pearce – followed up her magical Easter Cup win with another dynamic display to take out the Invitation.
Feats of the meet
Hobart (Thursday 18)
Treble – Trainer – Anthony Bullock – Outlaw Teddy, Bronelly Jacob, Pamplona.
Launceston (Monday)
Double – Owner – Robyn Johnson – Buckle Up Rose, Buckle Up Kiona.
Double – Owner – Susan Gittus – Surrender, Frunesco.
Double – Trainer – Gary Johnson – Buckle Up Rose, Buckle Up Kiona.
Double – Trainer – Susan Gittus – Surrrender, Frunesco.
Double – Sire – Buckle Up Wes – Buckle Up Rose, Buckle Up Kiona.
Double – Litter – (Fernando Bale – Pacha Queen) – Surrender, Frunesco.
Devonport (Tuesday)
Double – Owner – Robyn Johnson – Toss The Dice, Buckle Up Carter.
Double – Trainer – Paul Hili – Nitro Jane, Nitro Sambar.
Double – Trainer – Gary Johnson – Toss The Dice, Hartley’s Kris.
Double – Litter (Dyna Double One – Dominator Girl) – Nitro Jane, Nitro Sambar.
Hobart (Thursday 25)
Double – Sire – Barcia Bale – Sassy Pak, Roo’s Elbry.
Best first splits
Hobart (Thursday 18)
340 metres – Two Bills (5.24), Punch Day (5.25), Miny Mo (5.27), Dinga Bell (5.28),
Free Spins (5.28), Tah Penny (5.29).
461 metres – Muppet (5.03), More Despondent (5.03), Vintage Dancer (5.10),
Jalla Romelda (5.11), Outlaw Teddy (5.11), Millie Magna (5.11).
Launceston (Monday)
278 metres – Frunesco (4.93), Faron Wood (4.99), Wild Strike (5.06), Plyometric (5.06),
Lashing Harry (5.10), Card Talk (5.10).
515 metres – Highland Vintage (5.00), Buckle Up Azona (5.04), Hogwash (5.04),
Buckle Up Kiona (5.06), Buckle Up Fraya (5.06), Speedy Deneholme.
Devonport (Tuesday)
452 metres – More Despondent (5.88), Dan Lou (6.00), Pamplona (6.00),
Lucy’s Locket (6.00), Hartley’s Kris (6.01), Dolly Does It (6.03), Ricson Flyer (6.03),
Nitro Sambar (6.03), Sharp Catch(6.03).
Hobart (Thursday 25)
340 metres – Amacitia (5.21), Roo’s Elbery (5.25), Tah Penny (5.30), Twirler (5.32), Fernie (5.32), Fink Racer (5.32).
461 metres – Feel The Noise (5.09), Kayda Affair (5.10), Chilled Out (5.11), Millie Magna (5.11), Muppet (5.13), Ozzie Oscar (5.13), Rivergum Chief (5.13).
599 metres – Dahlhaus (5.19), Wynburn Mustang (5.31), Major Mint (5.37), Rosie Oh Rosie (5.37), Tottenham Lass ((5.39), Walla Wuti (5.41).
The week ahead
The Illingworth Classic final will be the highlight of the week on Monday night in Launceston with a quality field to contest the feature over 515 metres in quest of the $14,000 winner’s cheque.
Gary Johnson has four of his Buckle Up team through to the feature final, Kiona, Fraya, Noah and Azona.
The Great Northern Super Crisp Classic takes pride of place for the Gr 4/5 runners in Devonport on Tuesday.
Sam Page’s Hartly Kris will be chasing four wins on the trot with the Anthony Bullock chaser Pamplona in line for a winning hat-trick.
Watch Major Innings notched up a winning hat-trick in the fastest heat of the Illingworth Classic on Monday night in Launceston: