The Time Is Right For Kerr At Bathurst

BY the time Derek and Joanne Kerr got to the third of a winning treble at Bathurst last Monday week, they didn't need ask what time the dog ran …. they already had a pretty good idea.

Fast forward to last Monday and with the Kerr's landing a winning double the same thing happened.

Monday week ago, the Kerr's won with Mischief Pal (Crash-Zipping Tam) in a 307m Maiden in 17.93.

They then landed a 4th-5th Grade over the same 307m with Jacobite Hammer (Swift Fancy-Moonshine Whippy) and he too ran 17.93.

Come the FFA over 307m, and the Kerr's again won this time with Jacobite Magic (Dyna Double One-Moonshine Whippy) and, you guessed it, she ran 17.93.

So Derek and Joanne lined up at Bathurst this Monday and promptly landed a winning double.

Mischief Pal won a 5th Grade 307m in 17.91.

A few races later, Jacobite Hammer scored narrowly in the 307m FFA.

And the time? 17.91 of course.

The remarkable feat, two weeks in a row, had locals scratching their heads trying to remember if such a feat of consistency had been achieved before.

“Derek and I have been joking about it ever since the first week,” said Joanne.

“We are getting a picture framed up of all the winners on the first night with a big sign of 17.93 highlighted.

“After the second one won we had a bit of a laugh the time was the same, and then when the third one came along an ran exactly the same time Derek said ‘no way'.”

Derek has been in greyhound racing for 40 years but Joanne admits her 15 years on the Kerr family makes her a “youngster” to the industry.

Eleven years ago Derek and Joanne moved to six acres at Bathurst and have established a prolific winning kennel.

“Mischief Pal is the youngest in the kennel, and Jacobite Hammer was having his 95th race start last Monday night,” said Joanne.

“The acreage we have is our dream,” said Joanne. “It's all coming together … and at the very same time, two weeks in a row.”