Young stayer goes Boom at Wenty

By Jeff Collerson

Boom Down, a gift to owner Ronald Hoogenboom, stamped himself as a stayer of the future with an 11 lengths winning romp in fast time at Wentworth Park on Wednesday night.

Trained at Mandurama by Steve Cleary, Boom Down was last to leave the boxes but railed to the lead on the back straight and careered away, stopping the clock at a slick 42.23sec.

That is among the fastest times posted for 720m at Wentworth Park in a low grade event and took Boom Down's record to four wins and five placings from just 14 starts.

After the race the dog's breeder Kevin Gordon said: "I owned Boom Down but when he was educated at Dennis Barnes' Cudal property his break-in times were dismal.

"So I handed the dog over as a gift, and I'm thrilled to see him doing well for his new owner.''

Trainer Steve Cleary said: "Boom Down was probably not putting in when he was being educated but is putting it all together now.

"Although he can stay all day, as can most of his dam Lochinvar Vogue's progeny, Boom Down is going to find it harder when he is taking on top graders.

"He looked out of his depth when he ran fifth to Kihael Road at Wenty on September 29 but he clocked 42.32 getting beaten that night so he proved he can run the time.

"The problem is that while he had only four rivals tonight, it will be much tougher for him to have to come from last when he is among a full field of eight.''

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Nangar Kash ran a great trial for the heats of the Group 2 Lismore Workers Club Cup on October 23 with his win at Wentworth Park on Wednesday night.

Nangar Kash, raced by partners Jason Carrozza and Ray Tanti, took the lead at the first turn to win a strong 520m fifth grade in a sizzling 29.78, fastest time of the night.

It was the dog's fourth city win for trainer Michael Hardman, who secured the dog from breeder Dennis Barnes after the Magic Maiden series at Wentworth Park in March.

"The Lismore Cup has always been his mission but first Nangar Kash has to contest a semi-final of the Million Dollar Chase at Wentworth Park on Friday night,'' Hardman said.

"Nangar Kash has kept on improving since I got him, he is a terrific dog who Chases hard and just keeps finding something in his races.

"When Double Up Dee, who is very strong, had the drop on him on the back straight I thought Nangar Kash might be in trouble but he was kicking away again on the line.''

Part-owner Ray Tanti, who attended Wentworth Park with his close friend, famous boxing trainer Johnny Lewis, paid tribute to Hardman.

"Michael puts a lot of time and effort into his dogs and is always taking them down to his local river for them to splash around,'' Tanti said.

"The dogs love it and the good response shows in their form on the track.''

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QUEENSLAND trainer Chris Riordan, who has switched from harness racing to greyhounds, landed a winning double with Fabrique and Fire To Rain at Wentworth Park on Wednesday night.

Fabrique (pictured), who has earned a spot in Friday's Million Dollar Chase semi-finals through winning the Grafton regional run-off on September 11, began brilliantly and wasn't headed in a 520m Free-For-All, clocking 30.01sec.

Kennelmate Fire To Rain surprised by recording a slicker 29.99 in leading throughout in a heat of the fifth grade Ladbrokes Monthly Medal.

"Fabrique had not seen Wentworth Park before tonight so I used this race as a trial to get him ready for Friday's Million Dollar Chase semis,'' Riordan said.

"He flew out tonight and funnily enough, he tends to do that when he is having his first run on a track, but doesn't always come out as quick at his second start.

"I train at Queensland's Bribie Island after training pacers for four decades, including a lengthy stint preparing harness horses at Macau, near Hong Kong.''