It was in 2022 that North Bendigo trainer Aaron Blake enjoyed a successful year at Tara Raceway with his greyhound Adelong. A daughter of Fernando Bale and Bonnie Beauty, the blue bitch won 10 races over 400 m, 512 m, 600 m and 732 m.

Adelong raced on 38 occasions, with her only wins being the 10 at Tara Raceway. Then, in October 2023 she whelped her first litter by Hooked On Scotch which included Come On Luba and Lady Tsunade who both raced locally last Thursday.

Lining up in the Cadillac Racing TG1-4W Stake (305 m), Come On Luba had been chasing her first win since November last year when successful at Ballarat over 450 metres.

And she never looked in danger of defeat after quickly finding the front from the outside box before running out a 5½ length winner over Eskimo Ruby in 17.77 seconds.

Then, in the Federal Hotel TG5+W Stake (305 m), Lady Tsunade, also jumping from box eight, led all the way for a three length win over Cantara Pearl in a time of 17.89 seconds.

Meanwhile, back in 2012, the Berringa Park Iron Dog – a three-distance series – was run over 400 metres, 512 metres and 400 metres. This wasn’t all that taxing but at the time there weren’t too many distances available.

As it turned out, the Michael Niele-sponsored series winner was Kiss Me Donkey, a greyhound who had taken more than 50 starts to win her maiden for young brothers Calum and Aaron Blake. Niele and Aaron continue to race greyhounds on a regular basis at Tara Raceway.

Standing in for Blake last week, and doing the job pretty well after landing a double, was his brother Khris, accompanied by wife Beck.

Niele, who won the 2003 Mount Gambier Cup with Monstropolis, was also among the winners last Thursday with Kazakhstan, winner of the Sealeys Springworks TG5+W Stake (305 m) in a time of 17.74 seconds.

The son of Feral Franky and Darryl’s Dream, after an ordinary start from box one, quickly took up the running before scoring a 3¾ length win over Bulsara in 17.74 seconds.

Also landing a double was Glencoe-based trainer Dean Fennell who was successful with Saint Ella in the Gordon Refrigeration TG1-4W Stake (305 m) while Compton Franky won the Greyhoundtips.com.au TG5+W Stake (400 m).

Saint Ella, a daughter of My Redeemer and Mepunga Stellar, went straight to the front from box seven and was never headed when defeating Slovakia by a length in 17.90 seconds.

And Compton Franky displayed plenty of early pace from box two and was always on the pace, eventually running out a 1½ length winner over Jaja Ding Dong in 23.64 seconds.

By Feral Franky, the winner is a blue dog out of Perseverance who won 16 races at Mount Gambier when trained by Fennell.

Last week’s double follows on from the Fennell family’s good day early last month after Dean and wife Edna had landed a treble with Compton Layla, Compton Bowie and Magic Poppy.

Magpie Spice was an impressive winner of the Ontrack Insider Fast Forward TG1-4W Stake (400 m) which carried a handy time-graded first prize of $1065 to the winner.

Owned in Geelong by Mathew Kerr, the daughter of Fernando Bale and One More Burn is trained at Hamilton by Lorraine Goodwin who became the third trainer in three starts of the white and black bitch.

Jumping from box seven at what was her seventh race start, Magpie Spice quickly found the front and was never headed when running out a 3¾ length winner over Linda Lou in a time of 23.33 seconds.

GRSA PROPOSES NEW LOCAL RULE: Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA) is seeking feedback from participants on a proposed new Local Rule relating to vacant boxes at race meetings.

The proposed Local Rule is intended to permit GRSA to determine which box or boxes are left vacant when fields comprise fewer than eight greyhounds at the time of the box draw.

New Local Rule: Vacant boxes – Notwithstanding GAR 85(3), where there are less than eight greyhounds eligible to compete in an event at the time when a box draw is to be carried out, the number of the box or boxes to be left vacant may be determined by the Controlling Body.

Written submissions may be provided to Andrew Baker, General Manager – Integrity & Welfare, by email at Andrew.baker@grsa.com.au. Feedback should be provided by Monday, September 7, 2026.