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.

For the first time since early February when Ashton Sushi had won over 600 metres in 35.20 seconds, middle-distance racing returned to Tara Raceway last Sunday in dashing style following Mepunga Infrared’s win in the Gordon Refrigeration Mixed Stake.

Owned and trained at Portland by Nicole Stanley, the black son of Bella Infrared and Mepunga Molly quickly took up the running from box four before racing away to a five length win over Nova’s Fern who chased the leader throughout.

Mepunga Infrared’s time of 34.60 seconds was the fastest recorded at Tara Raceway over 600 metres since December 4, 2022 when Giant’s Flash broke his own track record of 34.69 seconds with a run of 34.58 seconds.

All told, he’s now raced on 44 occasions, winning five races in Victoria and three for Stanley at Mount Gambier since joining her kennels in the middle of last year.

The David Peckham trained Striking Viking was the inaugural 600 metre record holder after a run on November 30, 2014 of 35.38 seconds.

And for the second consecutive week, distance racing over 732 metres was on the program with Oregon Janet following up with another win for Lewiston trainer Lucas Trengove in the Cadillac Racing Mixed Stake.

The daughter of Malachi and La La Oregon found the front in the home straight the first time around before powering away to a 10 length win over Compton Rocky in a time of 43.57 seconds.

Robert and Shirley Halliday, also from over Portland way, enjoyed a successful day when Way Cool won the Commercial Hotel Stake (512 m). Then, Kazakhstan, owned by Shirley and trained at Berringa by Michael Niele, made it three wins from four starts.

Way Cool, a son of Flying Ricciardo and Miami Fernando, settled in second spot behind Ritza Benji down the back before finishing strongly for a narrow win over the early leader in a time of 29.90 seconds. The win was his first since November last year.

Kazakhstan, a littermate and kennelmate who is raced in the same interests as last Thursday winner Shirl The Whirl, quickly found the front from box one in the Produce Store Stake (305 m) before running out a two length winner over Trial King in 17.45 seconds.

Following his win in the Ontrack Insider Stake (400 m), Gus Limes has now opened up a handy lead in this year’s Greyhound of the Year.

Trained at Mortlake by Peter Crawley for Kevin Bouchier, the son of Aston Rupee and Elle Limes led all the way from box three when defeating Trading Halt by 1¼ lengths in 22.92 seconds.

The brindle dog now has five wins, seven seconds and five thirds at Tara Raceway this year and has accumulated 51 points, 14 more than second placegetter Capybara.

Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA) has totally rejected the stance of the South Australian RSPCA which once again has reiterated its long-held view that SA greyhound racing should be transitioned into closure.

The SA greyhound industry is currently under review with a clear set of reform expectations outlined in recommendations of the Ashton Review. It continues to effectively embrace all of those expectations.

It is worth noting that throughout the implementation of the Ashton Review, GRSA has maintained professional engagement with the RSPCA, including transparent provision of information, referral of welfare concerns and formal meetings every two months.

It is disappointing that, despite the strong working relationship, the RSPCA has chosen to take the public stance it has, disregarding the significant progress made and outcomes achieved so far by the SA greyhound industry.

At every stage of the Ashton Review and reform process, GRSA and industry stakeholders have embraced the opportunity to improve and safeguard the industry for the future.

The challenge of the 78 recommendations assigned to the industry, including 10 specifically proposed by the RSPCA, has been responded to as it works tirelessly to ensure they become entrenched in future operations.

As of May, almost 80 per cent of the recommendations have been endorsed by the Greyhound Industry Reform Inspector (GIRI) as complete, with regular follow-ups to ensure their ongoing effectiveness.

While the results of these changes will be measured and are meant to be measured over the longer term, GRSA is already seeing outcomes that demonstrate best practice governance, welfare and integrity standards and performance.

GRSA is on track to implement all 78 recommendations assigned to it by the July 7, 2026 deadline. It then intends to work with the GIRI, State Government and Industry stakeholders to secure a future built on long term accountability.

And GRSA is committing to a total organisation rebuild, including recruitment of national animal welfare leaders from RSPCA and the Animal Welfare League to the GRSA Board and senior management teams.

Greyhound racing in South Australia will, given the opportunity, continue to make an important economic and social contribution to SA, particularly in regional and outer suburban areas. And the industry will continue to put the greyhound first in every decision that is made.