Lara’s Ashlee ‘Ash’ Terry was destined for a career in greyhound racing.
I recall her at Sandown Park meetings as a baby in the early ’90s (‘snug as a bug’ in a pram and decked out in a Collingwood jumper) with her late father Keith and mother Pearl – now in her early seventies and still involved in the industry as a ‘catcher’ at Warragul meetings.
Ash loves greyhound racing and, more importantly, her greyhounds. (She also loves the Magpies, much to my pleasure!)
But back to her greyhounds, whom she mostly names with a ‘fire’ reference – including her new ‘flame’, Incineration (Sep ’20 Fernando Bale x Burn Like Fire).
A winner of seven races (with four seconds and four thirds) from 17 starts, Incineration – which only started racing in August last year – exits Box 7 in the $11,000 Aston Derby final (450m), for male greyhounds only, at Warrnambool on Thursday night.
Last week, Incineration burned around Wannon Park with a scorching 7.5L heat win in 25.07sec (Best). It followed a third placing in the Warrnambool Summer Sizzle final (390m) five nights earlier.
Mr. Beets, seven from 10, won the remaining heat in a slick 25.14sec. He’ll occupy Box 4 in the $7500 to-the-winner final – Race 8, 7.52pm.
“He’s been racing well but didn’t take that next step until around a month ago.”
Incineration, which is unbeaten in three starts over 450m at Warrnambool, has the kennel name “Scotty” (after ageless Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury).
“He broke-in the best of the litter,” Ash said. “He’s been racing well but didn’t take that next step until around a month ago.
“He’s more consistent and stronger but still has a good turn of foot.”
Ash is happy Incineration has drawn the ‘black’ alley as she didn’t want him drawn inside Mr. Beets.
“He (Mr. Beets) has so much speed and we didn’t want to be cut out early. If you watch his races, Incineration takes one or two steps right early. So, he should be suited out in the ‘seven’.”
Ash added Incineration is a “beautiful dog with a calm nature”. “He’s also great with our kids.”
Incineration – bred and owned by Ash’s partner, Nathan Rooney – has his name inspired by her favourite song Burn, by American R&B musician Usher.
Coincidentally, Rooney had previously owned greyhounds with a connection to ‘fire’ – particularly Arsonist, a dual G2 winner and three-time G1 finalist.
Ash and Nathan, who formed the ‘Burn Like Us’ syndicate, also raced Incineration’s dam, Burn Like Fire, which won 23 races from 36 starts and finished third in the 2017 G3 Healesville Cup.
They also won the 2021 Warrnambool Oaks with the G1-bred Pyrocumulus (Sep ’18 El Grand Senor x Maja Mahi Mahi) – meaning ‘fire cloud’. Pyrocumulus’ kennel name is “Jordan” (after Collingwood firebrand Jordan De Goey).
Meanwhile, Anakie trainer Jeff Britton will be vying for back-to-back Derby wins. He saluted with Mepunga Mustang last year and has G3 Great Chase finalist Westar Commander (Box 3), five from 11, in this year’s final.
Local trainer Dustin Drew, based at Dennington, will launch a two-pronged Derby challenge with Max Power (Box 1) – owned by several AFL Port Adelaide players and coach Ken Hinkley – and Aston Kalkara (Box 6) – owned by leviathan South Australian breeder Ray Borda, who also bred Max Power.
Another feature on the program is the $11,000 Mepunga Oaks final (450m), for female greyhounds only – Race 6, 7.22pm.
The fastest heat winner was Xoie Bale (25.20sec) – trained at Lara by Rob Camilleri – which will occupy Box 7 in the $7500 to-the-winner final. She’s won eight from 17.
WATCH: INCINERATION (B2) blazes to a scorching 25.07sec (Best) Aston Derby heat win last week.
Pest Management (25.23sec) – trained at Little River by Paul Mathieson – was the remaining heat winner. She’s won six from 11 and will jump from Box 3.
Meanwhile, Balliang’s Mark Delbridge could possibly rug three Oaks finalists – Mirabella Bale (Box 1), Krystal Bale (Box 5) and first reserve Whitley Bale.
Rowsley trainer Matt Lanigan will chase an Oaks-Derby double with Whiskey Diva (Box 2) and Tom Keeping (Box 8), while Lara’s Brooke Ennis – who finished runner-up with Old News and eighth with Bop Bop in last year’s Derby – has Responder (Box 4) in the Oaks.
Lanigan finished fourth with Go Go Ringo in last year’s Derby and sixth with Keep It Blue in 2021. His partner, Emily Azzopardi won last year’s Oaks with Impulse Buy.
Pawnote: The winner of both the Mepunga Oaks and Aston Derby finals claim not only a $7500 first prize but also an added incentive of the Mepunga Oaks winner receiving a choice of a Mepunga Blazer or Mepunga Cruzer breeding straw, with the runner-up receiving the remaining. Both courtesy of local breeding doyen and GRV Hall of Fame inductee, Barry Smith.
And Ray Borda has been kind enough to continue his support with the donation of a straw/service from Aston Fastnet to the winner of the Aston Derby.
WATCH: XOIE BALE (B8) semaphores a smart 25.20sec (Best) Mepunga Oaks heat win last week.
