It was back in 2021 that Edenhope-based Kerry Hawker and Captain Abbott, of Cadillac Racing, first became associated with progeny of Pamela Rocks, a daughter of Barcia Bale and Punk Rock Lass who had won races at Shepparton and Bendigo.

Based at Bendigo, she whelped her first litter – by Matt’s Entity – in May 2019 with Hawker and Abbott later purchasing Gold Rocks and One Tonne to race at Tara Raceway where the littermates both won races.

And when Pamela Rocks whelped her second litter in April 2021, this time by Fernando Bale, they opted to purchase the whole litter which ultimately included multiple winners Cadillac Lloyd, Cadillac Magic, Cadillac Rocks and Cadillac Star.

By the time her third litter came along in February 2022, the Cadillac team actually owned Pamela Rocks and had mated her with the imported sire Premier Fantasy.

This time around, among the progeny was Cadillac Landau, a winner of 19 races from 102 starts and Cadillac Ragtop who was successful last Sunday at Tara Raceway when winning the Federal Hotel Mixed Stake (305 metres).

Chasing her 36th win and always on the pace from box three at what was her 126th start, the black bitch ran out a half-length winner over Something Good in a time of 17.70 seconds.

Speaking after the win, a delighted Kerry Hawker said the 11-year-old Pamela Rocks these days was thoroughly enjoying her retirement at the Cadillac Kennels.

The win of Inga Noah in the first race, the Klaassens Contractors Maiden Stake (305 m), gave well known Camperdown greyhound educator Vito and his wife Mary Inguanti their first success at Tara Raceway.

Having his fourth race start, the August 2024 blue dog quickly found the front from box five and in what was a tight three-way finish scored a head win over Moonlight Haze with a further half head back to Cinta’s Me Mum in 17.97 seconds.

The win was a real family affair with Inga Noah handled by son Peter who said the litter comprised of five blue dogs by Tommy Shelby out of Inga Mia. He was also hopeful of bringing some of those over to race at Tara Raceway.

Inga Mia’s first of three litters, by Bali Unleashed, includes handy types Inga Amy, Inga Buddy and Inga Johnny.

Later in the day, Peter went close to training a winner in his own right after Something Good ran a half-length second to Cadillac Ragtop.

“Our involvement in greyhounds goes back some 30 years,” he said. “These days my parents look after the breeding side of things while I run the breaking-in track.”

As far as greyhounds from the past that the family has been involved with, he rates Settlement Day, a son of My Redeemer and Miss Energiser, and a winner of 18 races and $74,000 in prize money, as one of the better ones.

And given Peter Inguanti’s involvement with greyhound tracks over a long period of time, it was interesting to hear his view on Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway.

“I have to say I was most impressed with the track here. With a finish-on lure fitted with a loud squeaker it certainly does its best to encourage the greyhounds in their pursuit of the lure.”

Later in the day, Warrnambool trainer Linda Gore’s Moonlight River was back among the winners for the first time since August last year. And given the manner in which the black dog won, it was certainly a case of making up for lost time.

The son of Cosmic Rumble and My Girl Kizzy quickly found the front from box one before running out a 12¾ length winner over Ollie Limes in the Icon Signs Stake (512 m) in 29.74 seconds.

The win came on the back of wins four days earlier at Tara Raceway where Our Girl Selkie and Moonlight Grand were successful for Linda and Rob Gore.

Oregon Janet wrapped up a busy week for Lewiston trainer Lucas Trengove when leading all the way last Sunday in the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 Stake (732 m) for a four length win over Noel Perry’s Compton Rocky in 43.71 seconds.

It had been a busy week for the Trengove-trained daughter of Malachi and La La Oregon who in the space of a week had contested three distance races – two at Tara Raceway for two wins and the other at Angle Park for a second on the Thursday night over 730 metres.

And it had been a change of luck for the OB Flat-based Perry in the following race, the Commercial Hotel Stake (400 m), after Trading Halt settled in second spot from box five behind Penny Pinto before finishing the stronger for a half-length win in 23.39 seconds.

With 119 starts to his name, Magic Tom certainly doesn’t have any trouble finding his way around Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway – especially given that’s the only track he’s ever raced on.

Whelped in March 2022, the son of Bernardo and Saint Maddie, commenced his racing career over 305 metres in August 2023 and won his maiden over 400 metres for Glencoe owner-trainer Dean Fennell in November of that year.

His past 92 starts have all been over 512 metres with his most recent win coming at last Thursday’s time-graded meeting in the Williams Crane Hire TG5+W Stake.

Magic Tom was always on the pace from box four before taking the lead from Weblec Polly down the back and running out a three-quarter length winner in 29.95 seconds. All told, he has now won 13 races and run 37 minor placings.

Meanwhile, some of the greyhounds who figured prominently in the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club’s Autumn Classic final on May 10 once again performed well in last Thursday night’s Howard Ashton feature (530 m) at Angle Park.

The Tim Richards trained Big Diesel, a son of Bernardo x Rhonda Lily, defeated Tony Hinrichsen’s Lil Rex (Bernardo x Lily Pad) in the Autumn Classic. Finishing fourth was She’s A Jumbo, also trained by Richards, and Big Diesel’s litter sister.

Then, in the Howard Ashton final Lil Rex finished strongly when defeating She’s A Jumbo. Running third was Compton Gypsy, also by Bernardo x Rhonda Lily and bred and raced by Tracie Price of Compton. And giving Bernardo the first four in the Howard Ashton final was Big Diesel.

And back at Tara Raceway on Thursday afternoon was another of the Bernardo x Rhonda Lily litter in Jetson. The black dog led all the way in the Ontrack Insider TG5+W Stake (400 m) when defeating Lenny Limes by 2½ lengths in 22.91 seconds for Ben and Tracie Price.

Dunolly-based Rick Boehm, a regular at Mount Gambier’s Thursday time-graded meetings, finally broke through again last week with Miracle Man in the Sealeys Springworks TG1-4W Stake (400 m).

The white and brindle son of My Redeemer and Avatar Minty quickly found the front from box two and then turned the tables from a fortnight ago on short-priced favourite Lektra Lee for a 1¾ length win in 23.33 seconds.

For Miracle Man, the win was his third overall from 40 starts and his first this year after a win at Tara Raceway back in early December last year.

The day started well for Linda and Rob Gore of Warrnambool after littermates Our Girl Selkie and Moonlight Haze fought out the Quickmix Concrete Group Maiden Stake (305 m).

By Fernando Bale out of My Girl Kizzy, it was a case of the $15 chance Our Girl Selkie upsetting her short-priced $1.40 brother when leading all the way for a 1¾ length win in 17.71 seconds.

Later in the day, the Rob Gore owned and trained Moonlight Grand gave nothing else a chance in the Collins Court Butcher TG5+W Stake (305 m) when leading all the way from box five for a 6½ length win over Just Johnnie in a time of 17.44 seconds.

Training honours for the day went the way of Hamilton-based Lorraine Goodwin who was successful with Lie To Me in the Federal Hotel TG5+W Stake (305 m) and Energy To Burn in the Cadillac Racing TG5+W Stake (305 m).

Lie To Me, a son of Bernardo and Habits To Burn, chased Compton Lass – having her first start since last October – into the home straight before finishing the stronger for a three-quarter length win in 17.56 seconds.

And Energy To Burn, by Beast Unleashed out of Storm To Burn, quickly found the front from box one before scoring a comfortable two length win over Saint Bree in 17.61 seconds.

Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA) is rolling out a comprehensive, industry-wide training program aimed at strengthening animal welfare standards and reducing injury rates across the sport. All relevant participants will be required to complete the training by the end of June.

The training is being provided by GRSA as a requirement for industry participants to undertake training in animal welfare. There is also a requirement for GRSA to develop an education program for trainers.

The animal welfare training package has been developed for all participants who are either trainers, owners/attendants or breeders. And a further injury prevention training package is required to be completed by all trainers.

As far as Mount Gambier is concerned, the in-person training course will be conducted at Tara Raceway on Saturday, June 6 between 10.30 a.m. and 1 p.m. An on-line training portal is currently under development.

Local greyhound racing participants were this week saddened to learn of the passing of Nuran Keenan, 76, wife of Tarpeena owner-trainer Malcolm Keenan.

Relatives and friends are advised that Nuran’s Celebration of Life Service will be held in its entirety in the Chapel of South East Funeral Services, 1 White Avenue, Mount Gambier on Monday, June 1, 2026, commencing at 2 p.m.