Vard’s Choice Sets Time Standard For Casino Beef Week Cup Heats
The Shane Robinson trained Vard's Choice set the time standard through the Casino RSM Club Beef Week Cup heats, with an all of the way victory last Friday. Jumping cleanly from box four, and ran a good 27.63 on a track that was on the slow side after showers throughout the morning. The win was more meritorious as he was the least experienced runner in the heat, with only two wins to his credit. On the line he won by 2 3/4 lengths, and will certainly make his presence felt in this Friday's rich final.
The second of the two heats went to the “evergreen” Green Lee who ran 27.90. She is now over four years of age, but still racing with great zest as her win suggests. She motored home over the concluding stages to score by two lengths. Beryl and Brian Stephens train her for Margaret Springer, and there may be some more wins, including the cup, before her trip to the “breeding barn.”
The club had programmed a novice stayers race, but when nominations were accepted, there were enough greyhounds for two divisions. The first of these was won by Just Honey who ran 36.64 in a “blanket finish. Margaret Dwyer's Woodview Lass won the second run off, with an all of the way win in 36.54. At her only other start here over the trip she had fallen, but there were no worries on Friday as she kept on going strongly to win by a length.
Littermates Follow Your Nose and Kenstrelle were also winners on the day. Follow Your Nose led throughout to clock 23.27 for Danial Armfield, whilst Kenstrelle ran 23.64 for Mavis Wilkinson. Brumby Lad is the sire, and the locally bred Kooringa Bella is the mum.
Siam Star broke through at her lucky thirteenth start winning by 4 1/4 lengths in 27.91 for Deidre and John Free, while Kingsbrae Jane lived up to her trial form with a 23.55 maiden win. Charlie Northfield owns and trains her, and she scored by 3 1/4 lengths.
Trevor Thompson kept up his winning percentage with the win of Albert Rose Hi in the Casino Rural Traders stake. He went straight to the lead to run the best time over the 411 metres, – 23.14. He saluted by 5 3/4 lengths.
In the other races, Dayseas Penny returned Claude Dacey to the winners circle, when she ran 36.22 in yet another stayers race; Go Wild Caza kept Lee Wylies good strike rate up with good 23.20 win, and Snitcher defied all attempts to run him down clocking 23.68 for Alan Lang.
Casino greyhounds is the place to be this Friday afternoon with the Beef Week Cup highlighting the 12 event card.