Following a string of second placings over 512 metres, Mount Gambier greyhound Four Longnecks, after last winning in December, was finally back among the winners at Tara Raceway on Thursday afternoon.

Contesting heat five (Williams Crane Hire Stake) of the Fast Forward 1-4 wins series, and dropping back to 400 metres, the daughter of Elite State and Dusty Pearl took the lead off the back before holding out Mighty Molly for a 1¼ length win in 23.52 seconds.

With five heats being run and the eight fastest – irrespective of finishing position – through to next Thursday’s final, Four Longnecks’ time wasn’t the quickest but fast enough all the same to gain her a start in the Category 2 prize money final.

Raced by Adam Mackereth, who also trains the fawn bitch, along with Wal Egan, Chris Gabriel and Ian Ross, this is the dog that prior to racing had charged headlong into a gate at the trainer’s property – connections soon after being warned to prepare for the worst.

But Four Longnecks quickly bounced back, having now raced on 28 occasions for four wins and 14 minor placings.

Compton trainer Tracie Price provided the two fastest qualifiers – Your Girl Airlie (Metal Worx Stake) and Jayville Zoe (Exchange Printers Stake).

Your Girl Airlie took up the running down the back and was always travelling like a winner when defeating Okay Flash by five lengths in 23.18 seconds.

The fawn daughter of Hooked On Scotch and Love Made Me is the second of the litter to win impressively at Tara Raceway for Price. A fortnight ago, Hooked On Love ran a blistering 29.46 seconds when winning over 512 metres.

The Zambora Brockie x Sisco Sizzle litter brought up its eighth win at Tara Raceway this year when Mr. Quirky was successful in the second heat (Ary Sports Bar & Bistro Stake).

Coming off a maiden 305 metre win last month, Mr. Quirky, trained at Koroit by Lindsay Brookes for the Many Winners Syndicate, recorded the third fastest heat time of 23.36 seconds.

The black dog had 1½ lengths to spare over Kerry Hawker’s Cadillac Coupe – the son of Fernando Bale x Pamela Rocks also making it through to the final when running 23.45 seconds.

Other finalists are Subzero Annie (Jack Trengove), Bungaloo Rachele (John Little) and Okay Flash (Rob Walsh) while Mighty Molly (Peter Keane) and Spiteful (Jack Trengove) are the reserves.

Meanwhile, Chasing Poppy, winner of heat one (Bartholomew Pick 6 Stake), missed out on making the Fast Forward final for Dunolly training team Sandra Elmes and Rick Boehm when clocking 23.74 seconds.

The win was the pair’s fourth at Tara Raceway this year and Chasing Poppy’s first for 2023 after two wins in 2022 at Traralgon and Bendigo.

Chasing Poppy is a daughter of Zinzan Brooke and Avatar Sparkle whose grand-dam, Miss Elly Mint, was a winner of 44 races and $200,000 in prize money.

“Although nothing serious, we’ve had a few injury issues with Chasing Poppy,” Boehm said. “And with Avatar Sparkle’s first litter, by Hawk Alone, coming up with a couple of handy types I reckon we’ll probably try one more litter – perhaps to Beast Unleashed.”

Two Wells trainer Jack Trengove, back at Tara Raceway for the first time this year, enjoyed a fair sort of day with two winners – Lagoon Dark Eyes and Emerley Poida – as well as two seconds and three thirds.

Lagoon Dark Eyes, formerly based in NSW but now SA-owned by Darrell Johnstone, better known as an owner of the legendary greyhound Brett Lee, managed to handle his first time on the track when defeating Daniel Sun in the Todd’s Photographics Stake (400 m) by 1¾ lengths in 23.52 seconds.

And Emerley Poida, who opened up a big lead in the Gambier Vets Stake (400 m) managed to hold on for a head win in 23.40 seconds over Bungaloo Danni who made up a stack of ground in the run home.