26,000 reasons to wear a big smile

Masterton owner-trainer Owen Marron admits to surprise at his charge Tannochbrae winning the group one New Zealand Breeders Stakes at the Wanganui Greyhound Racing Club's meeting at Hattrick Raceway, Wanganui last Friday.
To have any chance of grabbing the first prize of $26,000 Marron considered that Tannochbrae had to make full use of his handy draw of two by jumping to the lead and gaining a break of at least two or three lengths on his rivals going down the back straight.
And even then he was aware that stamina limitations could count against him should some of the stronger runners be amongst his closest rivals making the last bend.
As it happened everything went according to plan. Tannochbrae jumped first, led by two lengths at the first turn and with less-fancied runners immediately behind him the more fancied contenders ran into early traffic problems.
"It worked out exactly as he needed it," Marron said. "He got clear of them early on and that was the key to it.There was trouble back in the field and they never really looked like pulling him back.":
Tannochbrae is owned by Marron and his partner Edith Kern and is one of many group one winners trained by Marron. His dam, Mistress Niven, was a good winner for the Marron kennel herself and both his grand-dam Miss Nevada and great grand-dam Pandalola tasted group on success.
Marron describes Tannochbrae as a "handy type" but concedes to seeing him as the kennel's second string in the Breeders Stakes heats in which he and Kern also had the well-performed Scandanavian entered. However, she missed making the final and Tannochbrae was left as their sole representative there.
And now there are 26,000 reasons why Marron and Kern are pleased about that!