Kevin McConnon Full Of Surprises
Prominent West Moonah trainer Kevin “Ocker” McConnon surprised almost everyone at Tuesday's NWGRC meeting conducted at the Devonport Raceway when Bit Rocky (Bit Chili – Rachael Robbo) was successful in the Synectic Devonport Grade 5 (452 metres).
The former New South Wales chaser was having his first start in Tasmania and despite having displayed good form early in his career, had not finished closer than sixth at his previous seven outings.
He on strongly in the concluding stages of Tuesday's event to score an impressive victory, recording a time of 26.47 on the rain soaked circuit and paying a win dividend of $14.90.
McConnon and his mate, former star North Hobart footballed Des Graham, purchased Bit Rocky for a virtual song and the chaser has obviously thrived in his new environment.
He was previously owned in New South Wales by Jason Dobbins and has now won four of 16 lifetime outings and can win again with a repeat of Tuesday's performance.
“My mate Charlie Lamb was putting another greyhound on the plane for me when he bumped into Jason, who enquired whether or not I was interested in taking Bit Rocky as well,” the jovial McConnnon explained.
“The price was right, so Des and I arranged the purchase and the rest is history,” he added.
McConnon had trialled Bit Rocky twice at Devonport and was not impressed, but he had a sneaking suspicion that he would have benefited greatly from the experience.
Meanwhile smart bitch Hellyeah Rachel (Collide – Gone For Tea), recorded her third victory in succession at the NWGRC meeting, by taking out the www.betfair.com Grade 5 (452 metres).
Raced by prolific owners the Hellyeah Syndicate, she recorded a time of 26.56 and returned a win dividend of $2.10.
Hellyeah Rachel, now the winner of six of 59 outings and stakes of in excess of $13,500, was bred by Susan Gittus and Caroline Mart, who later sold half of the litter of eight to the West Coast based syndicate.
Gittus prepares the bitch from her Mangalore base and is predicting a bright future for her now that she is finally revealing her true potential.
“Hellyeah Rachel had ability from the outset but had leg problems and then came in season, necessitating a long spell,” she explained.
“Now that those problems are behind her she is racing well and I believe that there are more wins in store.”
Moorleah trainer Russell Watts, whose team are literally flying at the moment, took training honours at Tuesday's NWGRC meeting by preparing a treble of wins.
Vel Magic (Velocette – Magical Potion) set the ball rolling by taking out the Hankook Juvenile (452 metres) in the time of 26.52 and paying a lucrative win dividend of $18.30.
Watts then won the last two races on the programme with Sober Moment (Elite State – Brooklyn Belle) and Juneau (Collision – Night Storm).
The former was successful in the Seba Sheetmetal Grade 5 (452 metres), running a time of 26.31 and paying a win dividend of $3.10 and the latter recorded a time of 26.29 in winning the Tasfreight Grade 5 (452 metres) and paying $3.40.