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.

The Mount Gambier Summer Classic, first run over 512 metres at Tara Raceway for greyhounds whelped on or after January 1 two years prior, initially had been conducted in January or February.

But last year the event took on a new name – the Autumn Classic. By then a $10,000 series, the age restriction remained the same although it was run in May when won by Robert Chuck’s locally-owned Galactic Nemesis and trained at Finniss by Lauren Harris.

And with this year’s classic attracting sufficient nominations to run three heats at last Sunday’s meeting it’s fair to say the Trackside Pet Meats sponsored Autumn Classic once again had held up pretty well.

Leading trainer Tracie Price went into the first heat looking to hold a strong hand with Compton Rocks, a June 2024 daughter of Tommy Shelby and Rock It Barcia and a winner last month at Angle Park over 530 metres in 30.58 seconds.

Overcoming interference down the back straight before finding the lead turning for home, the black bitch went to the line strongly for a two length win over Reiko Comet, trained at Dennington by Dustin Drew, in 30.08 seconds.

Price, who also bred last Sunday’s first heat winner, will now be looking to add to his two Summer Classic wins of 2023 and 2024 – when Honey Rocks (Fernando Bale x Rhonda Rocks) and Wild Banker had been successful – with Compton Rocks who also traces back to Rhonda Rocks.

Meningie trainer Tim Richards, after Summer Classic wins in 2021 and 2022 with Justice For All and He’s All Purpose, is chasing further success with Big Diesel, a son of Bernardo x Rhonda Lily who was also bred by Price.

Purchased at six months of age by Richards, he now races the black dog in partnership with his cousin, Don Richards. The May 2024 whelping has now won nine races from 26 starts – his past two wins prior to last Sunday over 595 metres at Angle Park.

Jumping from box one in the second heat last Sunday, Big Diesel was fairly away before finding the front down the back straight and running away to a 3¾ length win over the Price owned and trained Compton Shelly in a quick 29.44 seconds.

Langhorne Creek trainer Tony Hinrichsen was successful in the 2016 Summer Classic with Menzel Boys, a son of Dyna Tron and Fighting Fury. Now, 10 years later, he looks to be right in the mix in this Sunday’s final with Lil Rex.

Jumping from box one in the third and final heat, the black dog was never headed and eventually ran out a 4¾ length winner over Rock It Kathy in the fastest time of the three heats – 29.35 seconds.

Bred by Cam Forshaw, trainer of this year’s Mount Gambier Cup winner Gunning Bandit, Lil Rex is by Bernardo out of Lily Pad who won 17 races and more than $55,000 in prize money.

And he was purchased as a pup by a long-time associate of Hinrichsen in Mypolonga-based Brad Frahn who reared and broke-in Lil Rex prior to sending him to Langhorne Creek for training.

So, through to the Autumn Classic final (not in box order) are: Compton Rocks, Reiko Comet, Big Diesel, Compton Shelly, Naringal Lad, Lil Rex, Rock It Kathy and She’s A Jumbo. And well done to Allansford-based Jacob Rea, a Tara Raceway first-timer, on reaching the final with Naringal Lad.

Tim Richards’ good run this year at Tara Raceway certainly continued last Sunday after Big Diesel won his way through to the Autumn Classic final while litter sister She’s A Jumbo also qualified for the final with a 29.85 seconds third placing behind Lil Rex.

Earlier in the day, the Richards trained Jazzy Boo brought up her third successive 305 metre win after leading all the way from box five in the Williams Crane Hire Stake and defeating Speechless by 2¼ lengths in 17.61 seconds.

And Richards ended the day with a treble after Ritza Wotton found the front down the back in the Klaassens Contractors Mixed Stake before running out a 4¾ length winner in 23.02 seconds.

Also enjoying a good day was Dustin Drew. Into the Autumn Classic final on the back of a second placing behind Compton Rocks with Reiko Comet, Duran Nirvana then scored a good win over Lektra Skip in the Icon Signs Stake (512 m) in the good time of 29.42 seconds.