Celebrity Aisha Stars In Eric Thomson Debut

CELEBRITY Aisha will have a special task when she lines up in the time-honoured Eric Thomson Maiden final (520m) at Albion Park next Thursday.

The daughter of Sennachie and Celebrity Babe made her race debut for owner Mick Compton and trainer Denise Robinson when winning her heat on Wednesday in 30.46 at the great odds of $11.

The win was a welcome change of luck for Denise and her husband of 40-plus years Dennis who have been living in a caravan since February after their Condong (NSW) home was flooded.

“We bought the house block,” said Dennis, “because it was in a flood-free area.

“We had renovated the house with a new kitchen, new bathroom, new walls, new paint work … you name it.

Albion Park Wed July 20 2022
Race 2,Eric Thomson Memorial Maiden Ht 2. 520m
1st – Box 5 Celebrity Aisha – Denise Robinson
2nd – Box 2 Rusty Vision – Peter Young
30.46 (5.65 – 11.83 – 12.98) 5 x 5 1/2
Hara's Opal – 31.20 (3rd) Atomic Bill – 31.29 (4th) pic.twitter.com/F52xyKkceo

— John Brasch (@Bunny_Brasch) July 20, 2022

“But the flood water came through a metre high. We are still living in a caravan in the front yard.

“At one stage I was putting the new dining table and chairs high up in the house, looked behind me and saw the lounge and the fridges and the like floating around the house.

“The flood wiped us out and we still have not got the clearance from the insurance company to start work on the house again.”

The Robinsons have been greyhound racing stalwarts for half a century.

“We didn't have a dog at the time of the floods,” said Dennis. “Mick was getting Celebrity Aisha and her sister Runaway Babe educated and he had a couple of Zambora Brockie's on the way as well.”

Denise said the victory by Celebrity Aisha was not unexpected.

BOX DRAW

ERIC THOMSON MEMORIAL FINAL – 28.07.2022

1. BLACK NETTLE
2. ABSOLUTE DESIRE
3. LOCKED ON SCOTCH
4. CELEBRITY AISHA
5. MOTIVATIONAL
6. RUSTY VISION
7. HELLO SHANE
8. HELLO LEN

9. HARA'S OPAL
10. HERE WOLFE@Bunny_Brasch @SkyRacingAU @Racing_QLD @BrisGreys

— QRIC Stewards THB (@QRICStewardsTHB) July 20, 2022

“We had something on her, but Mick had a good win at big odds,” she said.

The bitch went into the heat off “a couple of 395 metre trials, a post to post and then one 520m” said Denise.

“She is very strong and will make a very, very handy bitch later on, especially over a bit more ground,” said Denise. “Mick bought her from  Merv Page as a pup.”

Box four in the final has done her no favours.

“There is a bit of pace in the final and it is drawn inside her,” said Denise. “But the one to beat is the eight (Hello Len).”

Cyndie Elson's Hello Len  (Fernando Bale-Hay Cyndie) won his heat in 30.45 the quickest of the three Eric Thomson heats.

Veteran dog man, Steve Woods, won the other heat in 30.48 with Absolute Desire (Fernando Bale-Miss Gingin).

Eric Thomson Mdn final: 1 Black Nettle, 2 Absolute Desire, 3 Locked On Scotch, 4 Celebrity Aisha, 5 Motivational, 6 Rusty Vision, 7 Hello Shane, 8 Hello Len. Res: 9 Hara's Opal, 10 Here Wolfe.