Representatives of the Mount Gambier Cancer Support Group were on course at Tara Raceway last Sunday for the running of the Tara Tipsters Stake which was a classy grade five race over 512 metres.

And taking up the early lead from box three was Major Queen over Magic Tom and Duran Nirvana. But off the back it was Duran Nirvana, a winner at the track earlier in the month, who found the front before scoring by 3¼ length win over Magic Tom in 29.69 seconds.

Raced by Sarah Barbetti, of Ballarat, the winner carries the imported bloodlines of Ballymac Kingdom and Fabriola Duran and is trained at Dennington by Dustin Drew.

The Cancer Support Group, one of a number of local charities to benefit from the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club Tara Tipsters competition, was presented with a cheque after the completion of the race.

Receiving the donation was Lorraine Musgrove who sincerely thanked the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club and the Tara Tipsters for their continued support.

“Our role is to help people with cancer and their families who need financial support,” she said. “This includes accommodation, food, fuel and chemist vouchers along with assisting with medical out of pocket expenses.”

And Dustin Drew also spoke well when acknowledging the role of the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club and the Tara Tipsters and their contribution to local charities.

“Let’s face it, these days greyhound racing is copping more than its fair share of negative publicity. It’s so unfortunate that endeavours such as those here at the Mount Gambier track don’t always receive the recognition they deserve.”

Distance racing over 732 metres, albeit in a four-dog form, was back at Tara Raceway last Sunday thanks to Lewiston trainers, father and son team Clint and Lucas Trengove, and the locally-based Noel Perry.

Contesting the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 Stake (732 m), it was Nitro Neo who took up the early running over Oregon Janet and Compton Rocky.

But it was 18-year-old Lucas Trengove’s Oregon Janet who assumed the lead down the back the second time around with the Perry-trained Compton Rocky left to do the chasing.

And in the run home, it was Trengove’s stayer, a daughter of Irish sire Malachi (Definate Opinion x Ballymac Razl) who ran out a 3¼ length winner over Compton Rocky in a time of 43.81 seconds. The winner is also a half-sister to local chaser Oregon Caldwell.

For Trengove it was his fourth staying win with the black bitch after taking her over in late January and winning three 730 metre races at Angle Park leading into last Sunday’s win.

And young Trengove made it a double for the day after Adhana Martina took the lead off the back in the Ontrack Insider Stake (512 m) before running out a 1½ length winner over Trust Deed in 30.00 seconds.

Only joining his kennel this month, the daughter of Collision and Zipping Nebraska has now raced on three occasions for a 530 metre win at Angle Park and last Sunday’s success.

Also landing a double was long-time trainer Rob Jehu who these days is based at Macarthur. Kicking off his successful day was Super Symon, a son of Superior Panama and Rattlin’ Home.

Leading all the way from box five in the Produce Store Stake (305 m), the black dog scored a one length win over Saint Bree in 17.73 seconds.

Off the track between August through until February this year due to hock issues, Super Symon has since won a further three races – two at Mount Gambier and also one at Horsham.

Jehu’s double came up in the Federal Hotel Stake (400 m) with High Cobber bringing up his second win from 12 starts after settling in third spot.

By Koblenz out of Mighty Mrs, High Cobber finished strongly in the home straight for a head win over Aston Telmont in 23.17 seconds.

The double was Jehu’s second this year at Tara Raceway after Around Outside – a litter brother to High Cobber – and Super Symon had been successful back on Sunday, March 8.

Meanwhile, at Murray Bridge last Sunday night, five heats were decided of the Daish Irrigation & Fodder Group 3 Murray Bridge Cup (455 m).

And fastest of the heats was Compton Gold who ran 25.40 seconds for Compton trainer Tracie Price. Another local greyhound through to the $50,000 final is Galactic Nemesis, trained at Finniss by Lauren Harris and owned by Robert Chuck, also based at Compton.

The draw: 1 Fantastic Spike (25.53), 2 Destroying (25.57), 3 Kisauni (25.53), 4 Compton Gold (25.40), 5 Spritely Sian (25.54), 6 My Picasso (25.50), 7 Solicit (25.4), 8 Galactic Nemesis (25.55). Res. Flying Artie (25.58), Take The Steps (25.64). Final to be run on Sunday, May 24.

It was another big day last Thursday for leading trainer Tracie Price of Compton who landed four winners at Tara Raceway’s time-graded afternoon meeting. Then, at Angle Park’s night meeting he was successful with Compton Gypsy.

Price’s winning day started off in the Sealeys Springworks TG1-4W Stake (305 metres) when Compton Zirconia quickly found the front from box one before holding on to defeat Just Rylee by a length in 17.82 seconds.

By 2018 Adelaide Cup Consolation winner Smart Knocka, out of local bitch Tandiki who won the 2021 Mount Gambier Anniversary Cup – both trained by Price – Compton Zirconia has now won three races in succession at the local track.

In race five, the Metal Worx TG5+W Stake (400 m), Price landed his second winner after Rocklea Earle, a son of Barcia Bale and Paint Face, gained a run as a reserve from box two. And the fawn dog led all the way for a 1¼ length win over Red To Burn in 22.98 seconds.

Then, a couple of races later, the Price owned and trained Flying Hugo led all the way from box two in the Cadillac Racing TG5+W Stake (305 m) for a 4¼ length win over Bali Unleashed in a near-record time of 17.21 seconds. The record is currently held by Wind Whiskers at 17.20 seconds.

And in the following race, the Klaassens Contractors Fast Forward final (400 m), Price landed his fourth win of the day. Canya Feel It, a daughter of Wow and Sandave Sky, made a real mess of the opposition when winning by 11¼ lengths over Extravagantly in a quick 22.68 seconds.

Later, at Angle Park, Compton Gypsy led all the way from box one in the third and final heat of the Howard Ashton Group 3 series over 530 metres when defeating Victa Graham by 3¾ lengths in a time of 30.37 seconds.

A daughter of Bernardo and Rhonda Lily, Compton Gypsy has now won at her past four Angle Park starts. Her litter brother, Big Diesel, last week won the Autumn Classic at Mount Gambier for Tim Richards of Meningie.

Back at Tara Raceway on Thursday afternoon and Cape Bridgewater owner-trainer Scott Blacksell’s Mocambora Mia was looking for another win at the local track. In fact, Mount Gambier is the only track she’s won on – perhaps not surprising given 104 of her 106 starts had been locally.

A $30 chance and away well from box five, the daughter of Superior Panama and Sweet On Me led all the way in the Trackside Pet Meats TG5+W Stake (305 m) for her 13th win. She defeated $1.12 chance Aston Torta by three-quarters of a length in 17.64 seconds.

Starlight Jewel, trained at Hamilton by Kyle Goodwin, found herself gaining a run as a reserve from box two in the Ontrack Insider TG5+W Stake (400 m).

It turned out to be a comfortable win for the daughter of Fernando Bale and Elusive Jewel who led all the way for a 2¼ length win over Close Shave in 23.15 seconds.

The previous night Goodwin had been at Ballarat with the Russell Wiseman owned Surprise Star. And the son of Tommy Shelby and Princess Kiwi led all the way from box two over 450 metres for a two length win in 25.28 seconds.

The Portland training team of Nicole Stanley and Nifty Lenehan fought out the Quickmix Concrete Group TG1-4W Stake (305 m) with Heart To Hartley leading all the way from box four and defeating Fabulous Fleur by 3¾ lengths in 17.82 seconds.

By US sire Kinda Cruel Red – who also sired the winner of race one in Rose Champagne – Heart To Hartley is out of Cryer’s Harper, a winner of 22 races at Tara Raceway when trained by Tom Cryer of Apsley.

And last week’s win – his second – had been a while coming given that the black dog’s first win had been 12 months ago over 305 metres at Tara Raceway.

Assisting Lenehan had been Penshurst owner-trainer John Cameron who achieved success in his own right later in the day after Lektra Lee had defeated Miracle Man in the Greg Martlew Autos TG1-4W Stake (400 m).

Only fairly away from box six, give away greyhound Lektra Lee, a son of Plaintiff and Lektra Viki, quickly found the front and from then on was never in any danger of defeat when winning by 2¼ lengths in 23.16 seconds.

The win was Cameron’s third after taking over the black dog in February this year.

Meningie trainer Tim Richards’ first Mount Gambier winner had been back in December 2017 with a greyhound called Allen Paul.

And plenty of success has since followed at Tara Raceway with a SA Country Cup win, classic wins in 2021 and 2022 with Justice For All and He’s All Purpose, memorial wins, and a 400 metre track record of 22.55 seconds by Almighty Stripe in April 2021.

A purchase by Richards of a couple of May 2024 pups by Bernardo out of Rhonda Lily – a winner of 19 races and a daughter of Banjo Boy x Paua To Avoid – is now starting to pay dividends with the brother and sister collectively having won 17 races.

The pair, bred locally by Tracie Price, is raced by Richards and his cousin Don Richards. The littermates, Big Diesel and She’s A Jumbo, both qualified for last Sunday’s $10,000 Trackside Pet Meats Autumn Classic final and drew boxes one and three respectively.

Given the box draw, Big Diesel was always going to be hard to beat after running 29.44 seconds in his heat the previous week. And that’s how the race played out.

He was in front going out of the first turn and from then on was never headed when running out a length winner over Tony Hinrichsen’s Lil Rex. He also ran a terrific race for the Langhorne Creek trainer from box eight when going down by a length in 29.49 seconds.

Filling third spot was Hamilton-based Lorraine Goodwin’s 100/1 chance Major Queen who battled on well when beaten six lengths but running a more than handy time of 29.99 seconds.

Richards said last Sunday’s classic winner was known around his kennels as Shaq, so named after former US basketballer Shaquille O’Neal whose one of many nicknames was Big Diesel.

His trainer also said the 35 kilogram dog really enjoyed racing at Mount Gambier behind the finish-on lure.

“I still remember back when I was breaking him in at Murray Bridge. So keen was he on the lure that one day he actually pulled it off the fence.”

But for the time being it’s back to Angle Park where Big Diesel has drawn box eight in the third and final heat of the Howard Ashton (530 m) on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, the past week has been quite productive for the Bartholomew family of Worrolong with Just Rylee, a daughter of Blue Moon Rising and Galactic Athena, finally shrugging off her injury woes last week and winning her first race since last September.

Then, at the Sunday meeting, Mary Lee won on debut over 305 metres after leading all the way from box four and holding out Cadillac Express for a 1¾ length win in 17.76 seconds in the Klaassens Contractors Maiden Stake (305 m).

By Tommy Shelby, she is out of Galactic Athena’s litter sister Galactic Destiny, daughters of Paddy Whacker and Galactic Rumball.

A couple of races later Just Alfie, a son of Hooked On Scotch and Miss Bellawood, brought up the family’s second winner of the day – albeit far removed from the Galactic line – after grabbing Secret Super in the shadows of the post for a neck win in 17.58 seconds.

Having his fourth start back since a five-month break, the win in the Cadillac Racing Mixed Stake (305 m) was the blue dog’s second win since resuming. It took his total number of wins at Mount Gambier, Angle Park and Murray Bridge to 17.

Also, Hey You Guys, another of the Blue Moon Rising x Galactic Athena litter, was back after a three-month break to contest the Icon Signs Stake (305 m).

Raced by Craig and Deb Hicks, she quickly overcame an ordinary start from box eight before quickly running away to a 5¾ length win over Cadillac Ragtop in 17.38 seconds.

That was the end of a successful day for the Bartholomew kennel. But from a breeding point of view, the day wasn’t quite over.

Lining up in race nine in the Ontrack Insider Stake (512 m) was another member of the Blue Moon Rising x Galactic Athena litter in Blue Moon Marie, owned locally by Noel Miller and Peter Lamond and trained at Koroit by Peter Keane.

Having her ninth start this year after being off the scene for 12 months – and chasing her third win –the brindle bitch settled in second spot before finishing strongly in the home straight for a 2¾ length win over Moonlight River in 30.21 seconds.

First it was Heathmere-based owner-trainer Garry Marshman’s Ralph The Rat who was successful at Tara Raceway at the end of last month. Then, at the time-graded meeting last week, Jimmy The Rat opened his winning account for Warrnambool owner-trainer team Linda and Rob Gore.

Having his first race start, Jimmy The Rat, a September 2024 son of Fernando Bale and My Girl Kizzy, never looked like being beaten. He led all the way from box one in the Cadillac Racing Maiden Stake (305 metres) for a 6½ length win over Pick A Cadillac in 17.86 seconds.

My Girl Kizzy, a daughter of Mepunga Blazer and Mepunga Rosie, won 11 races and $70,000 in prize money prior to whelping two litters by Fernando Bale and one by Cosmic Rumble.

Her first litter by Fernando Bale includes Pass Mark, a winner of 23 races and $262,000 in prize money, as well as Container (10, $60,000) and Veronica Lodge (10, $41,000). And a litter by Cosmic Rumble includes Moonlight Miller (7, $36,000).

Meanwhile, conspicuous in her wrist bandages was Lee and Steve Bartholomew’s Worrolong-based Just Rylee who had been off the scene since November and was last a winner at Tara Raceway back in September.

By Blue Moon Rising out of the 2019 Mount Gambier Cup winner Galactic Athena, Just Rylee virtually led all the way from box two in the Gordon Refrigeration TG1-4W Stake (305 m), eventually running out a five length winner over Pressure Point in 17.93 seconds.

Just Rylee is a litter sister to Galactic Nemesis, owned locally by Robert Chuck and trained at Finniss by Lauren Harris who won last year’s Mount Gambier Autumn Classic (512 m) with her. All told, she has now won 21 races and more than $55,000 in prize money.

Bringing up win number 34 – all at Tara Raceway – was Cadillac Ragtop at what was start number 123 with 119 of those at the local track.

Lining up from box five in the Collins Court Butcher TG5+W Stake (305 m), Cadillac Ragtop led all the way for Edenhope owner-trainer Kerry Hawker when defeating Energy To Burn by a length in 17.63 seconds.

Whelped in February 2022, the black bitch is by Premier Fantasy out of Pamela Rocks – a daughter of Barcia Bale and Punk Rock Lass. She was bred by Captain Abbott.

And at the previous Sunday meeting the Penshurst boys, Jack and Brendan Casey, along with Colin Kampman from down the road at Purdeet, were back on track with Penny Pinto.

Still flushed with success after a couple of 390 metre wins at Warrnambool in April, the boys continued their winning run when the daughter of Fernando Bale and Weeona Dotty led all the way from box one in the Ontrack Insider Stake (305 m).

Running 17.68 seconds, it was the brindle bitch’s first 305 metre win at Tara Raceway and her 14th overall win in a career that spans 76 starts. And for Jack Casey, this had been a win for the ages – well, according to him, anyway.

Dennington trainer Dustin Drew landed his first Tara Raceway winner since last September when the lightly raced Duran Nirvana led all the way from box eight in the Icon Signs Stake (512 m) for a 2¾ length win over Lektra Skip in a quick 29.42 seconds.

Raced by Ballarat-based Sarah Barbetti, the black dog carries the imported bloodlines of Ballymac Kingdom and Fabriola Duran with the win his fourth from 13 starts.

And when it comes to the Ashton Review there’s apparently ‘no wriggle room’ according to Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA) Chairman, David Lewis, Chief Executive Officer Brenton Scott and Board Member Gavin Harris.

The trio was in Mount Gambier last week to update local participants in regard to the current state of the SA greyhound racing industry.

Participants in attendance were updated on a number of topics including the political and activist landscape, key welfare measures, wagering and financial situations and, of course, the Ashton Review into SA Greyhound Racing which is now nearing completion.

One Ashton Review requirement that certainly does carry “no wriggle room” is that of kennel size. By the completion of the review all kennels will require to be of a minimum specific size, meaning trainers not meeting the requirement will be unable to race greyhounds.

However, Mr Lewis said he was confident GRSA and its participants would meet all the Ashton Review requirements prior to the completion time.