Kirin Corby enjoyed one of the biggest thrills of life in greyhound racing when the a greyhound she bred, reared and raced won the $432,000 Launching Pad at Sandown Park last Thursday night.
Corby made the trip from South Australia that afternoon to be trackside to see Tauwitchere jump brilliantly and claim the $150,000 winner’s cheque, the biggest prize she had been part of in a lifetime’s involvement in the sport.
“I’m in shock, I don’t believe it,” she said following the presentation.
“I super proud. She went sensational tonight.”
Tauwitchere turned heads from the moment she stepped out onto the track in October last year, winning her first five starts in impressive fashion. However Corby, who bred, whelped down and reared ‘Ashi’ knew the daughter of TAB Melbourne Cup winner Dyna Double One was something special long before her race track debut.
“I always looked at Ashi in the paddock and thought she’s one of the fastest ones but her brother (Querencia) ended up a bit faster I think even though he is yet to prove that on the track.
“After she won her maiden in 29.91, I put her in a feature grade 6 at Angle Park. It was only her second start and she came out and run 29.64. In the final she just took it up a notch again and I thought, ‘wow I really like this one.’ She’s a bit competitive that young Ashi.”
Steve White was the trainer of record for Tauwitchere’s win. Corby and White were connected via mutual friend Ray Fewings in December 2018 as Corby was looking to send another of her promising youngsters, Sennachie, to contest the group 1 Silver Chief. Sennachie would run second in that race and opened the door for Tauwitchere’s Launching Pad campaign.
“She was just running good and we just sort of thought we’d give it a crack.
“I’ve always been too scared to do it and think, ‘oh, no they’re never good enough.’ But then we decided to have a go. I really wanted to get over but it was just impossible for me at the time, so Steve got me at the right time.”
In all, six of Corby’s racing team has crossed the border to White’s kennels and she plans on spending the weekend there with her dogs. She has a special relationship with her greyhounds and judging by Tauwitchere’s reaction to seeing Corby at the presentation dais after the Launching Pad, it’s clear that the feeling is mutual.
“They mean the world to me and I hope I mean the world to them because they’re like my kids. I’m super proud of them.”
Paw note: White and Corby also combined to win the Launching Pad Consolation with Sennachie
Steve White discusses Tauwitchere’s brilliant Launching Pad win
