It was back in 2015 that Peter and Sandy Coulson of the Lower South East Legacy Group had made their way out to Tara Raceway for the ANZAC Cup presentation (512 metres).

As it turned out, the race was won by a more than handy greyhound called Sunday Shoes who had been trained at Pinnaroo by Nathan Wilson.

And it’s been some time since he was last at Tara Raceway. Actually, the same could apply to most of the trainers who had runners in the $890 to the winner ANZAC Cup – trainers such as Ben Boers, Brian Weis, Bernie Rogers and the late Tom Cryer.

But still going strong is Compton-based Tracie Price who in the 2015 cup had Sakanon Moment engaged in box one. He finished third to Sunday Shoes, beaten 5¾ lengths in a winning time of 30.50 seconds.

In recent years, though, Price has done well in the ANZAC races conducted at Tara Raceway. In 2022 he was successful with Giant’s Flash and in 2024 and 2025 with Honey Rocks.

Then, at last Sunday’s meeting it was Honey Zen who gave Price his third successive ANZAC success when virtually leading all the way from box two and holding out a fast finishing Aston Sushi for a length win in 29.87 seconds.

By Barcia Bale, the black bitch is out of Indy Honey and is owned in Adelaide by Justin Tribe. All told, she has now won 17 races and more than $75,000 in prize money.

Honey Zen’s win was part of another big day for Price who finished with four winners on the 12-race program after Dirty Dash, Pinky Rocks and Wild Star had also been successful.

Meanwhile, after smart 305 metre wins at Tara Raceway last Thursday with the Shirley Halliday owned littermates Kazakhstan and Speechless in times of 17.57 seconds and 17.40 seconds, Berringa trainer Michael Niele followed up on Sunday with litter sister Shirl The Whirl, a first starter.

By Feral Franky out of Darryl’s Dream, Shirl The Whirl found the front turning for home in the Collins Court Butcher Maiden Stake (305 m) before running out a 1¾ length winner over Dynamite Frank in 18.02 seconds.

Bred in Victoria at Carisbrook by John Ahern, two dogs and three bitches were purchased at three months of age by WA-based Michael Halliday, whose parents Robert and Shirley of Portland then reared the litter.

“However, down the track when the pups had just started to be broken-in, Dad suffered a significant health setback and the litter found its way to Michael and Vicki Niele’s property at Berringa,” Michael said.

“It was pleasing to see Shirl The Whirl win last Sunday because she did break-in very well. Even though she’s not going quite as well at the moment I’m confident she will continue to improve.

“But the pick of the litter is a red brindle dog that goes by the name of Compute. He is trained at Rowsley by Anthony Azzopardi who has won at Ballarat with him and has also been placed there as well as Shepparton.

“And Anthony is of the belief that Compute possesses enormous ability and may well have a big race in him.”

Shirley was at Tara Raceway last Sunday, not only to watch Shirl The Whirl win but also to cheer on her husband’s two runners – High Cube engaged in the ANZAC Gift and his litter brother Way Cool in the Greg Martlew Autos Stake. Both ran good races to finish third.

The brothers are by Flying Ricciardo out of Miami Fernando who is also the dam of Darryl’s Dream.

In a change of pace, earlier this year representatives of the Limestone Coast Prostate Cancer Support Group attended a Sunday afternoon race meeting at Tara Raceway where they received a $1000 donation from the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club (MGGRC) Tara Tipsters.

Supporting local charities for the past five years through participants’ donations by way of a twice-weekly tipping competition, the group really enjoyed their day at the dogs and were most appreciative of the Tara Tipsters’ donation.

Last Sunday, Tony Duddy, Chairperson of the Limestone Coast Prostate Cancer Support Group was on course to present the MGGRC President, Dave Green, with a certificate of appreciation for the generous donation.

Mr Duddy said the donation had been greatly appreciated and would be utilised to support Prostate Cancer patients throughout the South East region.

Flying the flag for the Owen-based Pidgeon kennels at last Thursday’s time-graded meeting at Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway was Michaela who had been standing in for husband Gary.

At the track for the first time, it took her only to race four, the Trackside Pet Meats TG5+W Stake (305 metres), to bring up the 40-dog kennel’s first win – with Mafia Mistress.

Only fairly away from box one, the giveaway daughter of Shima Shine and Ava Herrera had worked to the front turning for home before holding out Aston Ramona to win by a head in 17.84 seconds and bring up her sixth win.

Then, later in the day in the Sealeys Springworks TG1-4W Stake (305 m), Pidgeon landed another head winner in the form of Chivas Lady who quickly found the front from box two before holding on to narrowly defeat Saint Kylie.

Also, a giveaway and domiciled at Owen prior to naming, Chivas Lady – so named because of her sire Hooked On Scotch – has now won three races, two previously at Angle Park, from only six starts.

Speaking after the Pidgeon kennel double, Michaela said their best greyhound following an involvement in the sport of close to 30 years had been Universal Lady.

“By World Title out of Winning Magic, she raced in the early 2000s and from 88 starts won 32 races and more than $52,000 in prize money. Actually, we’ve been breeding ever since and are still looking for another Universal Lady.”

Berringa trainer Michael Niele continued his good run at Tara Raceway’s Thursday meetings after Kazakhstan won the Cadillac Racing Maiden Stake (305 m) on debut with a three length win over Cadillac Express in a smart 17.57 seconds.

Raced by Shirley Halliday of Portland, the brindle dog is a son of Feral Franky and Darryl’s Dream and boasts some outstanding bloodlines.

While Darryl’s Dream’s only four race starts resulted in minor placings at Casino, her litter brothers Amron Boy and Amron Dan – by Zambora Brockie x Miami Fernando – respectively won 22 races and $674,000 in prize money and 17 races for $186,000.

And later in the day, Kazakhstan’s litter sister Speechless led all the way in the Pindari Express at Stud TG1-4W Stake (305 m) and made it a double for Niele and Halliday when defeating Linda Lou by 2¾ lengths in a quick 17.40 seconds.

Another trainer to land a double on the day was Tim Richards of Meningie after Flash Gordon and Jazzy Boo were successful in the Icon Signs TG5+W Stake (305 m) and the Federal Hotel TG5+W Stake (305 m).

Flash Gordon, a son of Flying Ricciardo and Gold Burner, led all the way from box four and held on to defeat Aston Jimena by a nose in a time of 17.74 seconds.

Jazzy Boo was also always on the pace from box one with the daughter of Barcia Bale and Cruise Mode holding out Bulsara for a length win in 17.62 seconds.

Meanwhile, Edenhope trainer Kerry Hawker finally broke through for her first win with Oregon Caldwell, or Freckles as he is known around the kennels.

The win was the son of Need My Moneynow and La La Oregon’s first since Hawker – the white and brindle dog’s sixth trainer – took over his preparation in October last year.

Away well from box one in the Gordon Refrigeration TG5+W Stake (400 m), Oregon Caldwell never looked like being beaten when leading all the way for a four length win over Red To Burn in a personal best time of 22.79 seconds.

Also back among the winners last week was another giveaway greyhound in Lektra Lee, a maiden winner prior to being taken over by long-time hobby trainer John Cameron of Penshurst.

By Plaintiff out of Lektra Viki, Lektra Lee quickly knocked up a win for his new trainer in early February but it wasn’t until last week that the black dog again found winning form.

Drawn in box one in the Quickmix Concrete Group TG1-4W Stake (400 m), he quickly found the front and never looked like losing when running out a 3¼ length winner over Aston Deutz in 23.17 seconds.

Then a couple of nights later at the Saturday Meadows meeting in Victoria, litter sister Lektra Isa was successful over 525 metres for Toolong owner-trainer Phil Lenehan who also bred the litter.

And Lenehan was also over at Tara Raceway the following day with another of the litter in Rocky Ray who defeated My Mate Robbie by three-quarters of a length in the Cadillac Racing Stake (305 m) in 17.62 seconds.

It’s taken a while, but at race start number 32 What Odds Billy finally broke through for his first win last Sunday at Tara Raceway in the Metal Worx Maiden Stake over 305 metres.

A give away greyhound, picked up by Terang owner-trainer Paul Herry prior to breaking-in, the son of Good Odds Harada and Shim’s Heart recently switched trainers and is now with Princetown-based April Janssen – Herry’s daughter.

Lining up from box one, What Odds Billy was the outsider of the four-dog field. But the brindle dog defied the odds when quickly finding the front and hanging on for a one length win over Costly Habits in a time of 18.02 seconds.

This was a win that had been 11 months in the making for Herry. And after the race it had been a toss-up who he had made him the prouder – his daughter or What Odds Billy!

Janssen is somewhat of a regular at Tara Raceway and has done well locally with Princetown Flyer and also Swift Gift who reached the final of this month’s Group 3 Mount Gambier Cup final.

Meanwhile, Poke Salad Annie strung together three consecutive wins at Tara Raceway after leading all the way from box two in the Federal Hotel Stake (400 m) and having three lengths to spare over Major Queen in a quick 22.65 seconds.

Raced by Peter Carter of Horsham, Poke Salad Annie is trained at Penola by Stuart Sharam who took her over in late January. And by necessity, she’s yet to race at any track except Tara Raceway.

“The problem Peter found when training her in Victoria was that she wasn’t running into the catching pen at the end of her races,” Sharam said.

“I’d been racing over at Horsham a bit and got to know Peter. He asked me if I would be interested in giving her a go at the Mount Gambier track which these days doesn’t have a catching pen but operates with a finish-on-lure system.

“And she hasn’t done too much wrong since relocating, winning four of her five races at Mount Gambier. Last Sunday’s effort over 400 metres was a really strong effort in good time and signalled a step-up to 512 metres.”

By Bernardo, Poke Salad Annie is out of Reinforcements who won 13 races and more than $50,000 in prize money when trained by Carter.

This is a litter that also includes Lightning Quick, a recent winner over 730 metres at The Meadows, Lightning Speed, a 515 metre Sandown Park, Needs Space an Angle Park 530 metre winner and Air Speed who has won his past two at Horsham and Warrnambool.

There’s not too much wrong with Reinforcements’ breeding either. She’s by Barcia Bale out of Bobby Soxer, a daughter of Fernando Bale and Rhonda Rocks – a terrific litter that also includes Sennachie, a winner of more than $700,000 in prize money.

Fast approaching at Tara Raceway is the second running of the Autumn Classic, a $10,000 age-restricted series over 512 metres for greyhounds whelped on or after January 1, 2024. Heats will be run on Sunday, May 3 with the final on May 10.

Last year’s inaugural event was won by Galactic Nemesis, a daughter of Blue Moon Rising and Galactic Athena. She is owned locally by Robert Chuck and trained at Finniss by Lauren Harris.

Filling the minor placings were Peter Crawley’s Vixen Force and High Cube, trained by Robert Halliday.

Last Sunday’s Ontrack Insider Mixed Stake (512 m) certainly looked to come up with a classic contender in the form of the Tracie Price trained Compton Lizzie, a daughter of Bernardo and Rhonda Lily.

A May 2024 whelping, the black bitch quickly opened up a big break before running out a 7¼ length winner over Magic Tom in a quick 29.59 seconds.

But Magic Tom’s trainer, Dean Fennell, took out the training honours for the day after earlier winning with Saint Ella and Compton Bowie.

Saint Ella, a daughter of My Redeemer and Mepunga Stellar, led all the way from box two in the Williams Crane Hire Stake (305 m) and held out Bert Deeds for a half-length win in 17.68 seconds.

And Compton Bowie quickly found the front from box four in the Greg Martlew Autos Stake before holding out Tested for a half-head win in 23.31 seconds. This was the first win over the 400 metre journey for the son of Feral Franky and Perseverance.

Following the running of four heats of the $115,000 TAB AGRC Anniversary Cup (530 metres) at Angle Park last Thursday night, Compton trainer Tracie Price now has three runners – Compton Rocks, Capybara and Compton Gold – in this week’s final.

The trio all finished second in their respective heats with Compton Rocks, a daughter of Tommy Shelby and Rock It Barcia, finding the front from box eight before being beaten two lengths by Barefoot Zulu in 30.34 seconds.

Capybara, by Fernando Bale out of Nangar Gold, settled in third spot in her heat before eventually going down by 1½ lengths to Nola Keeping, also in 30.34 seconds.

And box six runner Compton Gold (Beast Unleashed x Minnie Banjo) chased home Mallee Beauty, eventually beaten by 2¼ lengths in a quick 30.08 seconds.

The Anniversary Cup final box draw took place at the track later that night and Price didn’t fare too badly – 1 Compton Rocks, 2 Barefoot Zulu, 3 Black Noir, 4 Capybara, 5 Nola Keeping, 6 Mallee Beauty, 7 Victa Krev, 8 Compton Gold. Res. Woodside Johnny, Zelda Covilha.

Meanwhile, at Tara Raceway’s Thursday afternoon time-graded meeting, Price kicked off the day with a win by Wild Star – a member of the successful Need My Moneynow x Wild Marilyn litter – in the Commercial Hotel TG5+W Stake (400 m).

The black dog led all the way from box one and brought up win number 16 when defeating former kennelmate Crowie Unleashed by 2¼ lengths in 23.24 seconds.

Later in the day, in the Federal Hotel TG1-4W Stake (400 m), Compton Baker, a kennelmate and litter brother to Anniversary Cup finalist Compton Rocks, led all the way from box two for a 2¾ length win over Miracle Man in 23.27 seconds.

The Sealeys Springworks TG1-4W Stake (305 m) wrapped up a successful first half of the day for Price with a treble after Held For Ransom quickly found the front from box one before running away to a 4½ length win over Aston Deutz in a quick time of 17.48 seconds.

Also landing a treble was Berringa trainer Michael Niele who was successful with Acoustic Flash, Fernando Lee and Appellant. This was his second Tara Raceway treble this year after Speechless, Rusty Wheels and Fernando Lee had won on March 19.

Acoustic Flash, a daughter of Aston Dee Bee and Acoustic Lee, was having her 105th start last week when lining up in box two in the Cadillac Racing TG5+W Stake (305 m).

Chasing her first win over the distance, she quickly found the front and never really looked like being beaten when holding off Close Shave for a 1¼ length win in 17.99 seconds.

Fernando Lee, a son of Fernando Bale and Acoustic Lee then followed up in the Gordon Refrigeration TG5+W Stake (305 m) with a neck win over Jazzy Boo in 17.68 seconds.

And Appellant, by Plaintiff out of Paua Of Mindy, led all the way from box one in the Quickmix Concrete Group TG1-4W Stake (400 m). He defeated Dimora Bernie by 3½ lengths in 23.12 seconds.

In the Ontrack InsiderTG1-4W Stake (305 m), Painswick trainer Sandra Elmes landed her second Mount Gambier winner this year after $30 chance Classy Willow railed through in the home straight for a narrow win over Saint Kylie in 18.18 seconds.

By Tommy Shelby out of Pink Martini, Classy Willow has been with Elmes for all of its 52 starts and has now won five races. In charge of the winner last Thursday was Rick Boehm who was accompanied by his granddaughter Willow, 8, who the winner had been named after.