Penshurst Lass salutes for Harding at Mount Gambier

Penshurst Lass
(Photo: Supplied)

They say there is a race out there for every horse and every greyhound (almost), and yesterday that proved to be true for a tiny dog called Penshurst Lass.

The 22kg blue bitch had never looked like winning a race after 22 starts, finishing in the placings only once, albeit a modest seven lengths behind the winner in a relatively weak maiden race.

But at Mount Gambier on Thursday, the daughter of x Jimary not only stunned her trainer, but her owner too, powering to the line at $14 fixed odds.

After being purchased at three months of age, it has been a long wait for with the bitch now 27 months old.

Winning trainer said Penshurst Lass “surprised everyone on course” winning over the 400m journey.

“She ran quite well actually,” he said.

“She rounded up the early leader and she might just improve now – who knows?”

Harding trains a modest team of five greyhounds at his property in Hamilton and isn't afraid to travel.

He is a regular at , , and over the South Australia border at Mount Gambier.

He has trained greyhounds for over 20 years and his first winner was Return To Smile at Mount Gambier.

His dogs are walked every day and he is not afraid to race them, with most racing three times a fortnight.

The 76-year-old Vietnam War veteran is one of those who just loves seeing the animals run, and the thrill of the race day experience.

“The dogs keep me going really and I love traveling the country roads,” he said.

Harding admitted after recent poor form he didn't expect ‘Penny' to win.

“She's raced at Mount Gambier a few times now, so I thought she would go alright, maybe not win though, but I still backed her,” he said.

“It's my first winner in a long time but I have run a few placings.”

nearly made it a Harding quinella, finishing in third place in what was a good day out for the likeable larrikin who is likened to thoroughbred racing's Bryce Stanaway for his humble rate and travelling ways.

Dennis Peach, a part-owner of Penshurst Lass, said the little blue bitch was well backed in Hamilton, with the neighbouring town of Penshurst just 30km up the highway.

“She jumped well and once she crossed she really didn't look like losing,” he said.

“A few of us backed her, including myself and my mate Darryl.

“Where she goes now is up to Tony, but we all backed her a little bit, so it was a good day.”

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