Greyhounds save face at Tricodes

By Marc McGowan
THE local greyhound community saved an otherwise bleak afternoon for home trainers at the eighth running of Tricodes Day at Cranbourne Racecourse on Sunday.
The thoroughbred, harness and greyhound industries united to provide racing action every 15 minutes for the 3709 patrons.
Visitors won the four main races – the Group 3 Bruce Skeggs Trotters Cup and the three City of Casey features – on the 23-strong card.
The closest locals came in the features was in the City of Casey Victoria Cup when Pearcedale’s Ima Drifter and Lady Moscato ran second and third behind Queensland dog Power Shift (TAB$37.50).
The race was Power Shift’s last for owner Andrew Russell, who is handing the reins over to Moe mentor Peter Giles due to a lack of appropriate distance races in his home state.
“All the good stayers were over in Western Australia for a race over there, so I thought it was a good opportunity to race him,” Russell said.
“I’m handing him over today … if all goes well he’ll head to the Sandown Cup.”
Hampton Park’s Tony Cortese and Barry Graham, Pearcedale’s Wayne Vassallo, Tooradin’s Stuart Mills and Cranbourne’s Peter Sieben all trained winners on the greyhound card.
Local greyhound trainers managed at least a place in all eight races, but it took until race four for the Cranbourne thoroughbreds to make their mark.
Trainers Michael Ryan and Mick Kent combined to quinella the Ready Workforce maiden Plate over 2025m with High Kingczar ($9.20) and The Zeustar respectively.
And just when it looked like that would be the sole success for the afternoon in the gallops, Cranbourne trainer Greg Eurell’s Go My Girl ($3.80) saluted in another local quinella from Ken Keys’ Empress Gold.
But it was the in-form Grecian Choice ($4.10), from the Freedmans’ Rye stable, that crossed the line first in the City of Casey Country Showcase.
Stable manager Paul Heazlett said the 1200m handicap was perfect for the three-year-old.
“He’s been consistent in the city and this was just a little bit of a drop in class,” he said. “We basically wanted to get his prize money ticking over and we’ll keep chipping away with him and pick the easy races out.
“He’s honest and gives his all and hopefully he can keep winning and go to a city race and get some prize money in the bank.”
The harness races were similarly barren for locals, with Pearcedale mentor Bill Walker’s Brutus Smith finishing third in the City of Casey Three-Year-Old Pace Final.
Jaccka Felix ($3.50) won the event for trainer Lee Evison from second-placed Rustler Boy.
Jaccka Felix’s victory gave his owners – a syndicate of 10 former LaTrobe University students – a huge thrill.
“We knew he had the speed – it was just a matter of getting the right run for the race, which he did today,” syndicate member Jason Coffey said.
“We got him out early and he led and held on really well. It was a great effort by (driver) Matt (Cormick) and Lee (Evison) with the strategy in today’s race.”
The other harness highlight was Just Glorious’ ($6.50) all-the-way win in track record time in the Group 3 Bruce Skeggs Trotters Cup.
Caldow was delighted with the triumph after winning a Group 1 race at Moonee Valley with the five-year-old last year.
“This horse is a lovely and very talented boy,” she said.
“You’re never confident (going into the race) because it’s such a good field, but I felt if he did find the front he’d be hard to beat.”