Rock Muncher Eats Up The Track At Grafton
Rock Muncher powered away to win the Tex Munford final at the Grafton greyhounds meeting on Saturday.
Box four didn't stop Rock Muncher beginning in third place then outpacing his rivals in the run to the first turn, and from there it was a matter of how far he was going to win by.
In the end he scored by six lengths and ran 22.98, the best time of the day.
The Reg Gardoll sprinter has now broken the 23.00 second mark at his past two runs, a feat not attained by many greyhounds.
Some years back Hazavar Jet, also out of the good-producing dam Fair Hazarad, did the same.
Rock Muncher has certainly given his owner Troy Carter and his family plenty of thrills.
Two heats of the Grafton to Lismore series were decided.
In the Westlawn Finance heat, Terry Stanley, trained by Roger Green, began well from box eight to reach the lead at the first turn he then had to pull out all stops to beat the Grafton specialist Lady Nessie, trained by Glen Northfield, by a length and a half.
Terry Stanley recorded his personal best time at the track, 23.16.
The Iluka Bowls Club heat was a keenly contested race to the first turn where Hanover Harry, trained by Jan Finneran, came out in front.
He then held off the Sandy Robertson-trained Tranquil Command to win by a length and a half in 23.42.
The field for the final to be held at Lismore on the September 15 (not in box draw order) is:
Terry Stanley, Lady Nessie, Villa Rides, Overpower, Hangover Harry, Tranquil Command, Dusky Valley, Can't Sop Me, 1st res Yorklea Sunset, 2nd res Bond's Mission.
Shy Shazoni, trained by Jim Madigan, upset her more fancied rivals in the Bailey and Gough Real Estate top grade when she bounced to the lead from box seven and was never headed to win by a length and a quarter in 23.15.
In the following race, the Sedgers Reef Hotel third and fourth grade, the John Free-trained Smiling Shiraz did the same, beating her more fancied rivals when she used box one to full advantage to win by a length and a quarter in 27.57 – the best time of the day over the 480m trip.
Diamonds Amore made it two wins in a row in the Phil McLennan Earth Moving fourth grade for his trainer Gray Clarke when he led all the way from box five to score easily by three lengths in 23.03.
The smile on Craig Carragher's face told the story after Tullymorgan Tom won the Rod's Mini Excavation Hire fifth grade.
Tullymorgan Tom was Craig's first winner at the Grafton track when he scored by four and a quarter lengths in 27.75. Well done Craig and family.
Junction Hill trainer Sandy Roberston has had a few lean years but this could change with his current litter.
Last week Sandy won with Tranquil Command and this week it was Tranquil Belle which led all the way in the PFD Food Services maiden to win by two lengths in 23.54.
Trainer John Martin, better known for breaking in dogs, landed a winner in the Grafton Radio Taxi's fifth grade over 480m when Pro Swan led all the way and won by three lengths in 27.98.
Gavin Lowe, a good supporter of Grafton, won the City Centre Office Supplies maiden with first starter Tranquil Cloud, which railed to the lead on the circle then held on to win by a length and a quarter in 23.90.
Courtesy : John Corrigan, Daily Examiner