Not only will Compton Gypsy go into this Sunday’s $10,000 Cadillac Racing Spring Classic final (512 metres) at Tara Raceway as the fastest qualifier but also as the youngest runner in the eight-dog final.

Raced by Compton-based Karen Price and her husband Tracie, and trained by the latter, Compton Gypsy – a winner of five races at Murray Bridge and Mount Gambier from eight starts – is an 18-month-old daughter of Bernardo and 19-race winner Rhonda Lily.

In fact, due to her whelping date, the black bitch will also be eligible for next year’s $10,000 Autumn Classic which will be run over 512 metres in May at Tara Raceway.

Drawn in box eight in the second of two heats last Sunday, Compton Gypsy led kennelmate Capybara throughout, eventually running out a 1¼ length winner over the odds-on favourite in a quick 29.41 seconds.

And in the first heat it was Belair Laurel, a September 2023 whelping, who found herself in fourth spot down the back straight before finishing strongly for a 1¼ length win over Lektra Solo in 29.81 seconds.

By Kinloch Brae out of George’s Fancy, Belair Laurel was bred and is owned at Nullawarre by Geoff Wickham who transferred the black bitch after breaking-in to Nullawarre North trainer Trevor Steel who has now won six races with her.

This is turning out to be a handy litter and includes the Brendan Pursell trained Belair Ethyl, a last start 600 metre winner at The Meadows – and after 17 starts, prize money now amounting to $31,000.

Training greyhounds for more than 30 years – and for the past two years for Wickham – Steel’s previous Tara Raceway winner had been back in October last year with Belair Brae.

So, Price, currently Mount Gambier’s leading trainer, will go into this Sunday’s Spring Classic with the two fastest qualifiers – Compton Gypsy 29.41 seconds and Capybara 29.50 seconds. And Steel is hoping for further improvement from Belair Laurel now that she’s had another run on the track.

Actually, at this stage there are only three trainers with runners in the final – Phil Lenehan of Toolong taking up the other five spots with his “Lektra” dogs – Solo, Beta, Skip, Unhinged and Jimmy – all out of litter sisters Lektra Perry and Lektra Rainbow.

Lektra Unhinged, who last won at Warrnambool back in July, ran a terrific race for a $61 chance when chasing Compton Gypsy and Capybara throughout and finishing third in 29.64 seconds.

And Lektra Solo ran a big race from box eight when turning for home in front before going down to Belair Laurel in a personal best time of 29.90 seconds. Also, Lektra Beta, odds on from box one, was having his first start at the track and should improve on his 1¾ length third.

Making their first trip from over Meningie way to Tara Raceway last Sunday were Tim Butcher and Leah and Tiah with Bookaloo and Mundulla.

Tim boasts a strong family connection in the sport through his father Cameron – greyhounds Worm Burner and Topgun contender Mallee Beauty quickly coming to mind – while his grandfather, Trevor, was one of the early committee members of the Adelaide Greyhound Racing Club.

Bookaloo, owned and trained by his father and mother Yvonne, turned in a big run in the Carlin & Gazzard Stake (512 m) after storming home from well back and going down by a head to Gus Limes in 30.25 seconds.

Mundulla, by My Redeemer out of Rosie Red and a litter sister to Bookaloo, along with Group 1 winners Mallee Beauty and Apilla, won her maiden at Tara Raceway midway through last year over 305 metres.

Owned and trained these days by Tim Butcher, Mundulla drew box one in the Da’Leni Meats Stake (400 m) and after an early battle with Patriot Millard ran out a three length winner in 23.16 seconds.

Meanwhile, Wind Whiskers and Mister Cadillac, leading contenders in this year’s Mount Gambier Greyhound of the Year (GOTY), continued to accumulate points at last Sunday’s meeting for Dave Green and Captain Abbott.

Wind Whiskers, a daughter of Beast Unleashed and Takers To Vegas, led all the way in the Sealeys Springworks Open Stake (512 m) when defeating Magic Tom by three-quarters of a length in 29.94 seconds.

Earlier in the day Mister Cadillac had led all the way in the Gordon Refrigeration Open Stake (400 m), defeating Just Alfie by 1½ lengths in a quick 22.84 seconds, and picking up another three GOTY points.

However, the win of Wind Whiskers over 512 metres resulted in her collecting four GOTY points. She now leads the way with 78 while Mister Cadillac sits on 62.

For the past three years littermates Minnie Banjo and Giant’s Flash have been among the track record holders at the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club’s Tara Raceway.

By Banjo Boy out of Navada Flame, Minnie Banjo was raced by Garry Harding and Garry Comans and really came alive after joining Compton trainer Tracie Price’s kennels at the end of 2021 and racing behind the finish-on-lure at the local track.

“Minnie Banjo had previously won three races at Horsham and Ballarat in between three suspensions for failing to chase,” Price said.

“Garry Harding had offered her to me, saying she had a few problems but could run a bit. He suggested I took her for six weeks and see how things turned out. The rest is now history.”

In fact, her first seven races for Price resulted in consecutive wins at Angle Park and Tara Raceway. Included in the unbeaten run was a track record 22.42 seconds over 400 metres at Mount Gambier on February 6, 2022.

Her track record still stands although Cath Roberts’ Lektra Tony equalled the time on December 15, 2024. All told, Minnie Banjo went on to win a total of 16 races for Price. Then on March 15, 2023 she whelped a litter of two dogs and eight bitches to Beast Unleashed.

At one stage Giant’s Flash, a winner of 26 races, held both the 512 metre and 600 metre records at Tara Raceway in times of 29.19 seconds and 34.58 seconds. The middle-distance record, run on December 4, 2022, still stands to this day.

Price ended up with three of Minnie Banjo’s litter – Compton Copy (nine wins), Minnie’s My Mum (12) and Compton Gold who has won 21 races and more than $76,000 in prize money.

“Compton Gold broke in the quickest of the litter and I was pretty confident that we had something to work with,” he said. “And after winning 10 races at Mount Gambier and Murray Bridge – I figured she warranted a try in Victoria.”

Now with Pearcedale-based trainer Kayla Cottrell, Compton Gold has won a further 11 races ranging in distance from 460 metres to 600 metres at Warragul, The Meadows and Sandown Park.

“I have to now rate her as the best greyhound I’ve been associated with. As such, we are now looking at the Hume Cup which will be run early next month at The Meadows over 600 metres and carry $75,000 to the winner,” Price said.

He grew up with greyhounds at Branxholme in Victoria prior to relocating to Mount Gambier in 2007. Five years later Price, wife Karen and family settled on a 2½ acre property at Compton. And during that time Trackside Pet Meats also evolved.

With bush tracks adjacent to the property, his training regime entails plenty of walking in the scrub with his greyhounds who enjoy the surroundings and what they have to offer.

And with his fourth consecutive Mount Gambier Leading Trainer award coming up this year, along with another 100 plus winners for the year, Price and his team obviously aren’t doing too much wrong.

It was back in September that Langhorne Creek owner-trainer Tony Hinrichsen came across Ferrero Girl for sale on an internet site. And with a couple of wins at Dubbo and four at Wentworth Park from 27 starts he figured she could be worth a try down here on some of the SA tracks.

By the Tasmanian-bred Brad Hill Billy, a winner of 35 races and more than $286,000 in prize money, Ferrero Girl’s first SA success came at Gawler on October 22 with the black bitch then making it consecutive wins last week at Tara Raceway’s time-graded meeting.

Always on the pace from box two in the Commercial Hotel TG5+W Stake (400 m), Ferrero Girl finished strongly to defeat kennelmate Forgotten Fury by a half-length in 23.72 seconds.

Killarney owner-trainer Kevin Mugavin, following wins by Eric Quirk and Val’s Legacy, landed his first double at Tara Raceway in 4½ years. His previous double had been in March 2021 with Skipping Bail and Spring Value.

Eric Quirk, a son of Aeroplane Eric and Cloona Lass, virtually went stride for stride with Bourne Franky in the Sealeys Springworks TG5+W Stake (400 m) before running out a half-length winner in a personal best time of 23.19 seconds.

And half-sister Val’s Legacy (by Equalizer) never looked like losing in the Klaassens Contractors TG1-4W Stake (400 m) when leading all the way from box four and defeating Rough Girl Nosey by 4¼ lengths in 23.36 seconds.

All things being equal, Capybara will line up this Sunday in a heat of the age-restricted $10,000 Cadillac Racing Spring Classic (512 metres) on the back of an impressive win last Sunday at Tara Raceway in the Icon Signs Stake over the same distance.

Having her first race start at the track, the August 2023 daughter of Fernando Bale and Nangar Gold quickly found the front from box seven before running out a 7¼ length winner over Lemon Pepper, also eligible for the classic given his November 2023 whelping date.

The run was also the first for the Compton-based Tracie Price who is training the brindle bitch for Murray Bridge owners Damien Smith and Terry Daly, along with Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club manager Tim Lewis.

The time of 29.77 seconds was smart and took her number of wins to six from 13 starts. Other success for the NSW-bred Capybara has come at Angle Park, Murray Bridge and Horsham.

The Spring Classic is an age-restricted heats and final series for all greyhounds whelped on or after July 1, 2023.

Meanwhile, Tessa Byrne, the Koroit-based bubbly teenage daughter of Peter and Narelle Byrne who race Saint Cassidy, was back at Tara Raceway last Sunday – this time to handle her parents’ greyhound.

The last time Saint Cassidy had raced at the local track had been more than 12 months ago. That was when the daughter of Fernando Bale and Mepunga Stellar, at what was her first start in a race, led all the way over 305 metres and defeated Cheques To Burn by 2¼ lengths in 17.80 seconds.

And 41 starts later she returned to Tara Raceway last Sunday, leading all the way in the Klaassens Contractors Stake (305 m) and defeating Crowie Unleashed by three-quarters of a length in 17.92 seconds.

Incidentally, Saint Cassidy was named after Mrs. Cassidy, Tessa’s favourite teacher while attending St. Patrick’s Primary School at Koroit.

Hamilton trainer Lorraine Goodwin enjoyed early success with second-starter Major Queen in the Williams Crane Hire Maiden Stake (400 m).

Bred by son Kyle, the daughter of Tommy Shelby and Princess Kiwi was purchased as a pup by Queensland owner Russell Wiseman who left the blue bitch with the Goodwins to be reared and then subsequently trained.

Three days prior at the time-graded meeting the kennel had also been successful with reserve runner Kia Keeping who had last won back in March at Dubbo over 516 metres.

By Fernando Bale out of Ruby Keeping, her most recent racing had been in WA over a bit more ground at Cannington and in stronger company – her recent form suggesting as much.

“Out of the blue I recently received a call from WA trainer Shayne Williams who was looking to move on Kia Keeping as a giveaway. All he wanted was $450 – the cost of a plane ticket to get the dog to the other side of the country,” Kyle Goodwin said.

“We reckoned she would probably find things a bit easier down here compared to taking on higher grade races at Cannington so we decided to give her a go.”

She certainly appreciated a change of track when leading all the way from box seven over the 512 metre journey and defeating Magic Poppy by 5½ lengths in 29.82 seconds.

And as luck would have it, the time-graded race was the Federal Hotel Fast Forward Mixed Series final and carried $1215 to the winner.

The Greyhounds As Pets (GAP) display at last Friday and Saturday’s Mount Gambier Show had been well received by patrons who had displayed a keen interest in how the greyhound re-homing process actually works.

Representing GAP over the two days were Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club manager Tim Lewis and long-time GAP worker Elysia Bartholomew who were assisted by Sarah Price, Noel Perry and Tim Manterfield.

“Interest in finding forever homes for retired greyhounds appeared to be strong and hopefully there will now be further follow-up,” said Bartholomew. “Following on from last weekend there will now be GAP assessments for retired greyhounds at Tara Raceway on Wednesday, November 12.”

And one patron taking a keen interest in the GAP display had been the Mount Gambier born former AFL player Gavin Wanganeen, also a member of the AFL Hall Of Fame and a Brownlow Medallist.

Meanwhile, three additional reverse cycle air-conditioning units were installed last week in the Tara Raceway kennel house by local firms Gordon Refrigeration and Klaassens Contractors. The installation was in line with Greyhound Racing SA’s heat policy.