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.

It took a while, but Edenhope trainer Captain Abbott of Cadillac Kennels came up with a return on a modest investment when Bali Unleashed was successful at Tara Raceway last Thursday in the appropriately named Cadillac Racing TG5+W Stake (400 metres).

Slowly away from box eight, Bali Unleashed quickly made up ground before running down early leader My Boy Josh in the home straight for a three-quarter length win in a personal best time of 23.05 seconds.

Previously owned locally by Garry Harding and trained by Tracie Price, Abbott purchased the daughter of Beast Unleashed and Minnie Banjo in November last year after she had won five races at Tara Raceway.

She had her first start under the new ownership in December last year with her last win having been back in September 2025. And Bali Unleashed’s first win for her new trainer came last Thursday afternoon at her 15th start for Abbott.

A winner of 19 races, Minnie Banjo, a daughter of Banjo Boy and Navada Flame, saw out her racing career with Price who took her over in December 2021.

By February 2022, she had won seven consecutive races – six at Tara Raceway including a 400 metre track record of 22.42 seconds in February 2022 that still jointly stands to this day – and one at Angle Park.

Bali Unleashed is a litter sister to Compton Gold, a Murray Bridge Cup finalist and a winner of 26 races and more than $100,000 in prize money.

Meanwhile, later in the day at last Thursday’s meeting, Run Hammer quickly found the front in the Federal Hotel TG1-4W Stake (400 m) before running out a 2¾ length winner over Miracle Man in a time of 23.52 seconds.

Owned and trained at Portland by Nifty Lenehan, Run Hammer won his first two races at Tara Raceway over 305 metres in late December last year and on New Year’s Day.

But it wasn’t until last week that the well-bred son of Bernardo and Sharnee Rose found winning form again for his breeder-trainer.

Sharnee Rose, a winner of five races at Geelong and Warrnambool, is one of a pretty handy litter by Mepunga Blazer out of Colden Star that also includes Carry On Angel (23 wins, $185,520 prize money) and Carry On Star (12, $120,280).

Representatives of the Mount Gambier Cancer Support Group were on course at Tara Raceway last Sunday for the running of the Tara Tipsters Stake which was a classy grade five race over 512 metres.

And taking up the early lead from box three was Major Queen over Magic Tom and Duran Nirvana. But off the back it was Duran Nirvana, a winner at the track earlier in the month, who found the front before scoring by 3¼ length win over Magic Tom in 29.69 seconds.

Raced by Sarah Barbetti, of Ballarat, the winner carries the imported bloodlines of Ballymac Kingdom and Fabriola Duran and is trained at Dennington by Dustin Drew.

The Cancer Support Group, one of a number of local charities to benefit from the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club Tara Tipsters competition, was presented with a cheque after the completion of the race.

Receiving the donation was Lorraine Musgrove who sincerely thanked the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club and the Tara Tipsters for their continued support.

“Our role is to help people with cancer and their families who need financial support,” she said. “This includes accommodation, food, fuel and chemist vouchers along with assisting with medical out of pocket expenses.”

And Dustin Drew also spoke well when acknowledging the role of the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club and the Tara Tipsters and their contribution to local charities.

“Let’s face it, these days greyhound racing is copping more than its fair share of negative publicity. It’s so unfortunate that endeavours such as those here at the Mount Gambier track don’t always receive the recognition they deserve.”

Distance racing over 732 metres, albeit in a four-dog form, was back at Tara Raceway last Sunday thanks to Lewiston trainers, father and son team Clint and Lucas Trengove, and the locally-based Noel Perry.

Contesting the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 Stake (732 m), it was Nitro Neo who took up the early running over Oregon Janet and Compton Rocky.

But it was 18-year-old Lucas Trengove’s Oregon Janet who assumed the lead down the back the second time around with the Perry-trained Compton Rocky left to do the chasing.

And in the run home, it was Trengove’s stayer, a daughter of Irish sire Malachi (Definate Opinion x Ballymac Razl) who ran out a 3¼ length winner over Compton Rocky in a time of 43.81 seconds. The winner is also a half-sister to local chaser Oregon Caldwell.

For Trengove it was his fourth staying win with the black bitch after taking her over in late January and winning three 730 metre races at Angle Park leading into last Sunday’s win.

And young Trengove made it a double for the day after Adhana Martina took the lead off the back in the Ontrack Insider Stake (512 m) before running out a 1½ length winner over Trust Deed in 30.00 seconds.

Only joining his kennel this month, the daughter of Collision and Zipping Nebraska has now raced on three occasions for a 530 metre win at Angle Park and last Sunday’s success.

Also landing a double was long-time trainer Rob Jehu who these days is based at Macarthur. Kicking off his successful day was Super Symon, a son of Superior Panama and Rattlin’ Home.

Leading all the way from box five in the Produce Store Stake (305 m), the black dog scored a one length win over Saint Bree in 17.73 seconds.

Off the track between August through until February this year due to hock issues, Super Symon has since won a further three races – two at Mount Gambier and also one at Horsham.

Jehu’s double came up in the Federal Hotel Stake (400 m) with High Cobber bringing up his second win from 12 starts after settling in third spot.

By Koblenz out of Mighty Mrs, High Cobber finished strongly in the home straight for a head win over Aston Telmont in 23.17 seconds.

The double was Jehu’s second this year at Tara Raceway after Around Outside – a litter brother to High Cobber – and Super Symon had been successful back on Sunday, March 8.

Meanwhile, at Murray Bridge last Sunday night, five heats were decided of the Daish Irrigation & Fodder Group 3 Murray Bridge Cup (455 m).

And fastest of the heats was Compton Gold who ran 25.40 seconds for Compton trainer Tracie Price. Another local greyhound through to the $50,000 final is Galactic Nemesis, trained at Finniss by Lauren Harris and owned by Robert Chuck, also based at Compton.

The draw: 1 Fantastic Spike (25.53), 2 Destroying (25.57), 3 Kisauni (25.53), 4 Compton Gold (25.40), 5 Spritely Sian (25.54), 6 My Picasso (25.50), 7 Solicit (25.4), 8 Galactic Nemesis (25.55). Res. Flying Artie (25.58), Take The Steps (25.64). Final to be run on Sunday, May 24.

It was another big day last Thursday for leading trainer Tracie Price of Compton who landed four winners at Tara Raceway’s time-graded afternoon meeting. Then, at Angle Park’s night meeting he was successful with Compton Gypsy.

Price’s winning day started off in the Sealeys Springworks TG1-4W Stake (305 metres) when Compton Zirconia quickly found the front from box one before holding on to defeat Just Rylee by a length in 17.82 seconds.

By 2018 Adelaide Cup Consolation winner Smart Knocka, out of local bitch Tandiki who won the 2021 Mount Gambier Anniversary Cup – both trained by Price – Compton Zirconia has now won three races in succession at the local track.

In race five, the Metal Worx TG5+W Stake (400 m), Price landed his second winner after Rocklea Earle, a son of Barcia Bale and Paint Face, gained a run as a reserve from box two. And the fawn dog led all the way for a 1¼ length win over Red To Burn in 22.98 seconds.

Then, a couple of races later, the Price owned and trained Flying Hugo led all the way from box two in the Cadillac Racing TG5+W Stake (305 m) for a 4¼ length win over Bali Unleashed in a near-record time of 17.21 seconds. The record is currently held by Wind Whiskers at 17.20 seconds.

And in the following race, the Klaassens Contractors Fast Forward final (400 m), Price landed his fourth win of the day. Canya Feel It, a daughter of Wow and Sandave Sky, made a real mess of the opposition when winning by 11¼ lengths over Extravagantly in a quick 22.68 seconds.

Later, at Angle Park, Compton Gypsy led all the way from box one in the third and final heat of the Howard Ashton Group 3 series over 530 metres when defeating Victa Graham by 3¾ lengths in a time of 30.37 seconds.

A daughter of Bernardo and Rhonda Lily, Compton Gypsy has now won at her past four Angle Park starts. Her litter brother, Big Diesel, last week won the Autumn Classic at Mount Gambier for Tim Richards of Meningie.

Back at Tara Raceway on Thursday afternoon and Cape Bridgewater owner-trainer Scott Blacksell’s Mocambora Mia was looking for another win at the local track. In fact, Mount Gambier is the only track she’s won on – perhaps not surprising given 104 of her 106 starts had been locally.

A $30 chance and away well from box five, the daughter of Superior Panama and Sweet On Me led all the way in the Trackside Pet Meats TG5+W Stake (305 m) for her 13th win. She defeated $1.12 chance Aston Torta by three-quarters of a length in 17.64 seconds.

Starlight Jewel, trained at Hamilton by Kyle Goodwin, found herself gaining a run as a reserve from box two in the Ontrack Insider TG5+W Stake (400 m).

It turned out to be a comfortable win for the daughter of Fernando Bale and Elusive Jewel who led all the way for a 2¼ length win over Close Shave in 23.15 seconds.

The previous night Goodwin had been at Ballarat with the Russell Wiseman owned Surprise Star. And the son of Tommy Shelby and Princess Kiwi led all the way from box two over 450 metres for a two length win in 25.28 seconds.

The Portland training team of Nicole Stanley and Nifty Lenehan fought out the Quickmix Concrete Group TG1-4W Stake (305 m) with Heart To Hartley leading all the way from box four and defeating Fabulous Fleur by 3¾ lengths in 17.82 seconds.

By US sire Kinda Cruel Red – who also sired the winner of race one in Rose Champagne – Heart To Hartley is out of Cryer’s Harper, a winner of 22 races at Tara Raceway when trained by Tom Cryer of Apsley.

And last week’s win – his second – had been a while coming given that the black dog’s first win had been 12 months ago over 305 metres at Tara Raceway.

Assisting Lenehan had been Penshurst owner-trainer John Cameron who achieved success in his own right later in the day after Lektra Lee had defeated Miracle Man in the Greg Martlew Autos TG1-4W Stake (400 m).

Only fairly away from box six, give away greyhound Lektra Lee, a son of Plaintiff and Lektra Viki, quickly found the front and from then on was never in any danger of defeat when winning by 2¼ lengths in 23.16 seconds.

The win was Cameron’s third after taking over the black dog in February this year.