A Major Step Up to the Distance

10:37 25 June 2026
GRNSW News
Taw Major has won 13 races over the 520m trip at Wentworth Park but trainer Andrew Rowe concedes he has "thrown the dog in at the deep end" when his dog seeks to increase his $130,000 earnings over 720m there on Thursday night.

Taw Major will make his long distance debut in a 720m fourth and fourth grade, where he will be up against the top class proven stayer Vodka And Ice.

That greyhound has won five of 11 Wentworth Park 720m assignments and after being sent out as a $1.18 hotpot in a similar race at headquarters last week, is set to be all the rage with punters again on Thursday.

Last week Vodka And Ice drew awkwardly in box seven but looked a class above his rivals and won by nine lengths.

On Thursday Vodka And Ice has drawn ideally in box one, with Taw Major, along with two other 720m newcomers in Zipping Bilpin and Zipping Colo, appearing to be his only dangers.

Taw Major's trainer Andrew Rowe said: "He has lost that early zip necessary to be competitive with the top graders in 520m races and I have felt he was crying out for a middle distance race.

"I have nominated Taw Major a couple of times for 600m events but none has become available so I have been forced to throw him in at the deep end in a 720m race.

"I've heard that a lot of the old time successful trainers reckoned that if a dog is going to run 720m it will run it out first go, providing they are fit.

"Taw Major is certainly fit enough so I've got my fingers crossed.''

If Thursday night's Farrell's 4x2 Stakes, a 520m fifth grade, was held at The Gardens, Kalani Sky would be a long odds-on favourite.

She has box one on Thursday, the draw she had when she won over 515m at the Newcastle track in a flying 29.45 on May 14.

Kalani Sky then overcame an unsuitable box seven draw to won again there, in 29.58, last Saturday night.

That effort was outstanding as she was badly hampered while trying to negotiate her way to the rails from her wide alley.

Chris Kedwell, whose wife Sarah trains the greyhound, said: "Kalani Sky missed the start when unplaced at her only Wentworth Park start but is certainly well boxed on Thursday.

"She has had a few trials at Wenty and has gone reasonably well, though never as good as she goes at The Gardens.

"Kalani Sky just loves that track.

"I have her litter sister Kalani Cruise in box eight in race 10, a 520m fifth grade, and she was a last start winner at Wenty in 29.88.''

Kalani Cruise had been placed in two of four earlier Wentworth Park races but Kedwell said: "She is improving all the time.''


Tracey Taro has won 12 of 29 provincial and country races and will be chasing her second Wentworth Park success when she exits box one in race six on Thursday, a 520m fourth and fifth grade.

Tracey Taro clocked a smart 29.56 when runner-up to Santino Kade from box six at Wentworth Park in October and has been placed at her two most recent outings there, on June 4 and 13.

Trainer Jeanette Foley said: "Tracey Taro seems to run her best races when she comes from middle boxes.

"Her chances probably depend on how well she jumps.

"Tracey Taro is not a super reliable beginner but she can get away cleanly sometimes so I'm hoping she nails the start on Thursday.''

Tracey Taro appeared to have every chance when third to Ritza Sophie and My Baby Brooke at her most recent Wentworth Park appearance but looks to be in against slightly weaker opposition on Thursday.

Best Bet Vodka And Ice (race 5)

Best Value Kalani Sky (race 3)

Quaddie race 5 - 1, 5

Race 6 - 1, 2, 6

Race 7 - 1, 6, 2

Race 8 - 6, 8, 2

$20 for 37.03%