Greyhounds

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday January 11, 2008

Peter Davis

Knocka Norris breaks record

In a stunning debut at the track, Reg Kay's brilliant sprinter Knocka Norris smashed Buddy Rich's 515-metre record in a heat of the Young Guns Stakes at The Gardens on Wednesday night.

A former record-holder over 457m at the Gold Coast, Knocka Norris arrived at The Gardens with seven wins from just 10 starts and, after being ahead by eight lengths in the middle stages, powered away to score by 113/4 lengths in a remarkable 29.25 seconds.

His time shaved 0.16 or 21/2 lengths off the old mark, set in November 2005.

Kay's night started with a whimper when Knocka Norris's litter sister Elite Oriental - which broke her brother's record at the Gold Coast on October 30 - could finish only third to Silver Chief finalist Gold Mambo and Kumar Bale in 29.73.

As usual, Gold Mambo spotted the leaders a tidy start at the half-way mark but finished powerfully to score by 13/4 lengths. Kumar Bale collared Elite Oriental in the latter stages to snare second and a place in next week's rich final.

Heat two went to the much-improved Awesome Andrew in a career-best 29.79.

Knocka Norris then set the track alight. Marina's Best and Midnight Spirit filled the placings.

Just four dogs contested the final heat and rank outsider Lorna Moira upset odds-on favourite Size Can Matter in 29.80.

Knocka Norris has drawn the awkward five alley in the final but will be favourite in the $15,000-to-the-winner decider.

Kay has a two-pronged attack with Knocka Norris and Size Can Matter, which had trialled impressively before his second placing. Elite Oriental is waiting in the wings as the first reserve.

Journo's dinner surprise

Illawarra Mercury sub-editor Craig Mordey and some mates purchased two greyhounds at the 2007 Dapto puppy auction, and they should be racing in a couple of months.

His trainer mate "Rogie" is delighted with the pair - a bitch by Irish sire Digital and a black dog by Where's Pedro.

But Rogie has deflected Mordey's offers of assistance with the training and feeding regime.

And there seems to be good reason.

Mordey, an animal lover, last week arrived at work with his dinner packed but had inadvertently picked up the wrong item.

He ended up with Tootsie's dinner. Tootsie is his Jack Russell terrier.

The temptation to devour Tootsie's six beef sausages troubled the hungry Mordey, but he refuses to divulge whether the sausages made it home.

Officials baulk at racy name

Internet chat rooms can often provide malicious intent and innuendo in the world of greyhound racing. But one curious posting is very real and has yet to be sorted out.

In recent weeks, Dubbo trainer Belinda Harley has been taken to task by the Greyhound and Harness Racing Regulatory Authority after the naming of a youngster by Most Awesome out of After Dark. The owners named the fawn dog Knee Trembler.

Knee Trembler is now the subject of an inquiry and cannot start in a race until his name has been changed.

pdavis@illawarramercury.com.au

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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