For Compton-based trainer Tracie Price it was a case of dominating last Sunday’s 12-race meeting at Tara Raceway after ending the day with six winners.

Among his wins were the two $5000 heats of the Mount Gambier division of the SA Country Cup (512 metres) with littermates Jetson and Compton Lizzie who are by Bernardo out of Rhonda Lily.

In the first heat Jetson quickly worked into second spot from his box eight draw after Moonlight Nellie had taken the early lead from box seven.

And in the run home Jetson finished strongly for a length win in 29.84 seconds over April Janssen’s Princetown-trained Swift Gift who was doing her best work at the finish.

In the second heat Compton Lizzie took up the running going out of the first turn and was never headed. On the line she had 2½ lengths to spare over Hamilton trainer Kyle Goodwin’s Kia Keeping in 29.57 seconds.

Once again, the Adelaide Cup, run at Angle Park on Friday, October 9, will be complemented by the $10,000 SA Country Cup final (530 metres). Mount Gambier, Gawler and Murray Bridge will each have two representatives.

Representing Murray Bridge will be Terrific Nero and Daintree Sniper while Gawler’s two representatives are Boom Boom Jack and Bandit Blaze.

However, representation these days is a far cry from when greyhound racing clubs at Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Port Augusta, Port Pirie, Kulpara, Barmera, Strathalbyn and Mount Gambier were all involved in the SA Country Cup.

In 1995, when greyhound racing was still being conducted out at the Glenburnie racecourse, the SA Country Cup final was run at Gawler. Representing Mount Gambier and winning the final was Nickelman, trained at Naracoorte by David Lewis.

And in 2008, Tickets Please, trained at Portland by Robert Halliday, also successfully represented Mount Gambier in the final at Gawler.

However, the subsequent closure of the Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Port Pirie, Kulpara and Barmera greyhound clubs appeared to have put paid to the SA Country Cup.

But in 2013 the Country Cup was re-introduced at Gawler and took in the greyhound clubs still operational which also included Strathalbyn, Mount Gambier and Port Augusta.

Moorak Hope, bred and trained by Price for Moorak owner Allan Holmes, was the winner for Mount Gambier in the first of the re-vamped Country Cups. Then in 2016, Portland trainer Nicole Stanley followed up for Mount Gambier at Strathalbyn with Berry Bling.

Back then, the SA Country Cup final was shared between Gawler and Strathalbyn and coincided with their cup nights. However, in 2017 the event was switched to Angle Park and run in conjunction with the Adelaide Cup.

Following the closure of Chinnery Park at Port Augusta, there are now three clubs – Mount Gambier, Gawler and Murray Bridge – involved in the running of the six-dog Country Cup final.

And Mount Gambier’s most recent winner was He’s All Purpose back in 2021 for Meningie owner-trainer Tim Richards.

Price’s other four winners at Tara Raceway last Sunday were Huntsman, Compton Stella, Rock It Roger and Minnie’s My Mum. His six winners took his overall tally this year at Tara Raceway to 160.

Meanwhile, back at Tara Raceway last Sunday to help out Nullawarre North trainer Trevor Steel with his team of “Belair” dogs was the effervescent and recently-turned 16-year-old Tessa Byrne of Koroit.

Byrne, who boxed her first winner, Shaker Striker, at Tara Raceway early last year as a 14-year-old, was back among the winners with Belair Laurel in the Ontrack Insider Mixed Stake (512 m).

Drawn out in box seven, the daughter of Kinloch Brae and George’s Fancy ran a terrific race when running down Duran Nirvana in the shadows of the post for a head win in a personal best time of 29.67 seconds.

For Byrne, it has been a case of growing up with greyhounds given her father, Peter, is a long-time educator and trainer of greyhounds.

Still at school, the young Byrne now aspires to becoming a veterinary nurse and, of course, a greyhound trainer.

And Blue Moon Marie, after three terrific efforts over the 732 metre journey for two wins and a second placing, broke through for her first 600 metre win at Tara Raceway.

On the back of five second placings from six starts over the middle distance journey, the daughter of Blue Moon Rising and Galactic Athena led all the way from box two for a 3¾ length win over Aston Sushi in a quick 34.83 seconds.

Purchased as a pup by the locally-based owners Noel Miller and Peter Lamond, Blue Moon Marie is trained at Koroit by Peter Keane.

Mount Gambier-based Elysia Bartholomew brought up her 50th win as a trainer at Tara Raceway last Thursday when Trackman Tim opened his SA winning account in the Greg Martlew Autos TG1-4W Stake (305 metres).

Probably quite appropriate given her partner’s name is Tim and he’s a trackman at Tara Raceway.

Jumping from box seven, the son of Tommy Shelby and Galactic Destiny settled in second spot behind Mashed Potato before gaining the upper hand in the closing stages of the race for a length win in 17.58 seconds.

Trackman Tim was bred by the trainer’s father Steve Bartholomew and is raced by father and daughter in partnership with Gerald Lanigan of Eynesbury in Victoria.

And Elysia Bartholomew still has fond memories of her first winner. The dog in question was Unique Pearl who won his maiden at Tara Raceway in August 2022 before going on to win a further 23 races from 35 starts.

Interestingly, both Unique Pearl and Trackman Tim trace back to Elite Touch, bred by the late Kevin Mugavin, and a winner of 12 races for Steve Bartholomew.

Trackman Tim’s racing career kicked off with a win for Lanigan’s son, Rowsley-based Matt, at Traralgon over 350 metres back in June. After a further 13 starts he returned to Mount Gambier.

Meanwhile, Mashed Potato, a son of Bernardo and Chic, put in another good run for Sandra Elmes and Rick Boehm after having won two races in succession at Tara Raceway back in July.

Earlier in the day, Elmes and Boehm had lined up with first starter Pickle Head over 305 metres. The litter brother to Mashed Potato raced pretty greenly but ran a promising three-quarter length second placing in 17.86 seconds.

And in the Commercial Hotel TG1-4W Stake (305 m), Elmes was successful with Little Button, a daughter of Aston Rupee and Limit Switch.

Chasing her third win at the track, Little Button flew the start from box five before leading all the way for a 1½ length win over Rock It Ronnie in a personal best 17.57 seconds.

Making the trip down once again from Murray Bridge to Mount Gambier was Terry Daly, looking to make amends with Pure Gout who the previous week had run second at Tara Raceway.

This time though the daughter of Fernando Bale and Nangar Diva led all the way from box four in the Federal Hotel TG5+W Stake (400 m) when defeating another Boehm-trained greyhound in Miracle Man.

Raced in partnership with fellow Murray Bridge trainer Damien Smith, Pure Gout has now won three races at Tara Raceway. All told, she has won eight races from 24 starts.

Daly’s involvement in greyhound racing goes back 40 years or so to when he was residing in NSW. He rates the best dog he’s been involved with as Coco Boomer, the daughter of Fabregas and Dive Bomber winning the 2021 Dapto Greyhound of the Year.

There wasn’t much separating the placegetters in the Collins Court Butcher Fast Forward TG1-4W Stake (400 m) – connections of the winner receiving $1065 as well as a $50 meat voucher.

But once again it was the Michael Niele trained Speechless prevailing, this time running down Lorraine Goodwin’s January 2025 youngster Legacy To Burn to make it three wins in succession at the track.

Running 23.25 seconds, the son of Feral Franky and Darryl’s Dream scored a head win while there had been a further neck back to Kevin Patzel’s He’s A Tycoon.

And Fernando Lee brought up a double for Niele after leading all the way from box four and holding out a fast finishing Trial King to win by a half-length in 17.48 seconds.

With five of the McInerney x Sweet On Me litter having been named – and four having won at Mount Gambier, The Meadows and Geelong – Allandale East owner-trainer David Peckham had been hoping the fifth litter member could win at last week’s meeting.

Racing as Bourne Munchkin, the August 2024 blue bitch lined up in box one in the Klaassens Contractors Maiden Stake (305 m) on the back of three minor placings from four starts.

As it turned out, she was able to join her winning littermates after leading all the way for a three-quarter length win over Pickle Head.

And the Meningie owned and trained Mr. Oberon has come a fair way for Tim Richards since winning his maiden over 305 metres in 18.05 seconds at Tara Raceway back in October 2024.

By Feral Franky out of Perseverance, the fawn dog brought up his 18th win last Thursday when defeating Energy To Burn by 1½ lengths in a best of day 17.37 seconds in the Greyhoundtips.com.au TG5+W Stake (305 m).

For Stuart Sharam and his 15-year-old son Liam it had been a case of heading home to the Coonawarra from Tara Raceway on Sunday afternoon with a winner.

The greyhound in question was Head For Home, the son of Bernardo and Reinforcements owned in Horsham by Peter Carter.

Contesting the Greyhoundtips.com.au Mixed Final (400 metres), Head For Home settled in second spot down the back behind Lenny Limes before finishing strongly in the run home for a three-quarter length win in 23.02 seconds.

Lenny Limes, a son of Aston Rupee and Elle Limes, ran second while his litter brother Gus Limes – current Mount Gambier Greyhound of the Year leader – picked up another GOTY point after running third.

Head For Home has now won three races at Tara Raceway since joining Sharam’s kennels back in May. He’s also the dog who set the track alight one trial morning back in July with an unofficial 305 metre record of 17.15 seconds.

Sharam, a long-serving viticulturist with Hollick Estates in the Coonawarra, also trains the Carter-owned Poke Salad Annie who has won eight races from only 15 starts.

Meanwhile, Terang-based Team Roberts – Mark and Catherine – sounded the alarm in the Cadillac Racing Stake (305 m) with Aston Alarm who defeated kennelmate Paw Whisper.

An August 2024 son of Aston Rupee and Aston Lopez, the black dog’s grand-dam, Secret Spell, was a winner of 23 races and more than $275,000 in prize money.

Purchased recently from Ray Borda, Aston Alarm was having his first start for his new owners. And he never looked like losing after leading all the way for a 1½ length win in 17.80 seconds.

The win was his fifth with his previous four wins all at the Ladbrokes Q One Turn Lakeside track in Queensland.

Kicking off last Sunday’s 11-race meeting was the Ontrack Insider Maiden Stake (305 m). And Winslow trainer Jon Malone was back among the winners at Tara Raceway with Rebekah Joy.

Away well from box four, and despite using plenty of the track turning for home, she was always travelling like a winner. On the line she had 2½ lengths to spare over Tabasco Fiasco in 17.72 seconds.

By Tommy Shelby out of Mepunga Gem, Rebekah Joy was bred and is owned by Nirranda dairy farmer Tim Keogh who named the winner after his wife.

“Tim and Rebekah are really good supporters of our kennels so it was certainly pleasing to see her win for them today,” Malone said.

“I had her for the early part of her education and then sent her back to Nirranda to give her time to mature. She then came back to Winslow at about 17 months of age.”

Interestingly, Malone’s last winner at Tara Raceway had been back on April 5 – Mount Gambier Cup day – with a dog called Larni Lou who won over 512 metres in a quick 29.68 seconds.

By Koblenz, Larni Lou is a half-sister to Rebekah Joy and raced in the same interests.

After a couple of outs, Moonlight Nellie found winning form again in the Ferness @ Stud Mixed Stake (512 m) for Warrnambool owner Linda Gore and Millicent trainer Dave Green.

Finding the front moving into the back straight, the daughter of Fernando Bale and My Girl Kizzy eventually ran out a 4½ length winner over Duran Nirvana, who finished off the race well, in 29.74 seconds.

Moonlight Nellie may now tackle the $5000 Mount Gambier heat/s of the SA Country Cup (512 m) which will be run at Sunday’s meeting.

And the forthcoming Trackside Pet Meats Spring Classic (512 m), heats to be run on Sunday, November 1 and the $10,000 final on Sunday, November 8, should also suit the black bitch.

The Spring Classic is for dogs and bitches whelped on or after July 1, 2024. A winner of four of her past six starts for Green, Moonlight Nellie is a September 2024 whelping and well placed on the age scale.

As far as the Metal Worx Mixed Stake for stayers was concerned, Blue Moon Marie, after going down by 2¼ lengths the previous week over 732 metres, certainly turned the tables on Kia Keeping.

Once again, Kia Keeping went straight to the front in the four-dog race but down the back straight the second time Blue Moon Marie took up the running before finishing powerfully for a 7¾ length win over the early leader in 43.73 seconds.

Raced locally by Noel Miller and Peter Lamond, and trained at Koroit by Peter Keane, Blue Moon Marie’s win was the sixth for the daughter of Blue Moon Rising and Galactic Athena.

Training honours at last Thursday’s Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club time-graded meeting at Tara Raceway went the way of Berringa trainer Michael Niele who landed a litter treble.

But the winners – Shirl The Whirl, Compute and Speechless – all had to work hard in the run to the line after the winning margins all required a photo finish prior to the results being posted.

By Feral Franky, the littermates are out of Darryl’s Dream, a daughter of Zambora Brockie and Miami Fernando, who raced on only four occasions at Casino for four minor placings.

However, litter brother Amron Boy won 22 races and $674,000 in prize money while another litter brother in Amron Dan was successful on 17 occasions and collected $186,000.

Shirl The Whirl kicked off Niele’s winning day in the Cadillac Racing TG1-4W Stake (305 metres) after settling in second spot behind tearaway leader Mocambora Jack.

But the brindle bitch, whose 16 starts have all been over the 305 metre journey at Mount Gambier, finished powerfully in the run home to score by a head in 17.72 seconds.

Compute and Speechless both contested heats of a Fast Forward, a TG1-4W 400 metre series with the six fastest heat runners, irrespective of where placed, advancing to this week’s $1515 final.

Chasing his first win at the local track, Compute settled at the tail of the field in the first heat, the Greyhoundtips.com.au Stake, and was still at the rear turning for home.

But in a busy finish the brindle dog defeated Legacy To Burn by a head in 23.39 seconds. As it turned out, the other two runners, Come On Luba and He’s A Tycoon, also made their way into the final.

And in the second heat, Speechless also found herself well back early in the Sealeys Springworks Stake before finishing strongly for a nose win over Linda Lou in 23.33 seconds.

All three littermates are raced by Shirley Halliday of Portland.

The Fast Forward finalists in order of times are Speechless, Linda Lou, Compute, Legacy To Burn, Come On Luba, He’s A Tycoon. Reserves: Appellant, Mocambora Mitch.

Meanwhile, winning the Collins Court Butcher Stake (400 m), and also collecting a $50 meat voucher, was German Creek-based trainer Kevin Patzel who was successful with Ivory Pygmy.

By the Irish-bred Vulturi out of Lala Ivory, Ivory Pygmy has raced exclusively at Tara Raceway since Patzel took over her training in May. She has now won a further four races for Patzel and WA owner Scott Johnstone.

Drawn in box eight, she was always on the pace and railed up on Pure Gout in the home straight to score a half-length win over the favourite in 23.25 seconds.

And another greyhound with imported bloodlines in Bomb Rocky found winning form for the first time since December last year when she had been successful at Tara Raceway over 400 metres.

By Ballymac Bolger out of JD Bombshell, the black bitch is owned by Aaron Blake and trained at North Bendigo by his mother Mary.

Settling in fourth spot, Bomb Rocky, a $17 chance, railed through on the home turn before running out a half-length winner over Canya Feel It in a time of 30.41 seconds.

And OB Flat trainer Noel Perry was back among the winners with Rough Girl Mel who hit the headlines last month when she won at Tara Raceway as a $100 chance.

Only a $4.40 chance in last week’s Quickmix Concrete GroupTG5+W Stake (305 m), the Perry-bred and owned daughter of My Redeemer and Vossy led all the way from box seven.

On the line she had 2¼ lengths to spare over Saint Ella in 17.78 seconds. And finishing a half-length third was another Perry runner in Rough Boy Rocky.

 

NATIONAL TOTE TESTING TO COMMENCE

Tabcorp is set to begin testing its national tote after securing regulatory approval. This will put the long-anticipated One Pool project on course for a possible launch in early October.

And Mount Gambier’s Thursday greyhound meeting this week is among the likely fixtures to be the first to use the unified system.

In announcing the imminent launch of One Pool, which sees NSW TAB, UTAB and STAB combine into one “supercharged” pool, Tabcorp CEO Gillon McLachlan said he remained confident it would increase liquidity for punters and create greater price stability.

“We have a new brand and a campaign which will focus on what we see as the advantages. Clearly greater liquidity, the opportunity to have jackpot-style products and simplicity in the way it is presented.”

For the second consecutive Sunday afternoon, racing over five distances highlighted the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club’s Category 2 meeting at Tara Raceway.

The 12-race meeting kicked off with the Metal Worx Special Event over 732 metres. And the mid-afternoon Federal Hotel Mixed Stake over 600 metres certainly added to the day.

Back again was Nullawarre North trainer Trevor Steel with Belair Brindle who is trained by his wife Elizabeth for breeder-owner Geoff Wickham of Nullawarre.

By Kinloch Brae out of George’s Fancy, Belair Brindle had raced for the first time locally over the middle-distance journey the previous week when running a 2¾ length fourth to Mundulla.

But last Sunday, despite drawing awkwardly in box six, she quickly found the front before proceeding to open up a handy break over the 600 metre journey.

And on the line the three-year-old brindle bitch still had a length to spare over race favourite One Feather who didn’t enjoy much lucky early. The winner’s time was a more than handy 35 seconds.

Kia Keeping was having her first run over the staying course at Tara Raceway for Hamilton owner Lorraine Goodwin and her son Kyle who trains the daughter of Fernando Bale and Ruby Keeping.

However, she had no trouble in handling the 732 metre journey. Leading all the way from box six, the black bitch ran out a 2½ length winner over the previous week’s distance winner in Blue Moon Marie in a quick 43.25 seconds.

Following a stint of racing in NSW and WA, Kiah Keeping has now won 14 races at Tara Raceway and one at Angle Park since joining the Goodwin kennels.

Wins at Murray Bridge last Friday afternoon with Compton Chinook and Minnie’s My Mum kicked off a big weekend for Compton trainer Tracie Price.

Then, following on at Tara Raceway last Sunday, he dominated the second half of the card with four winners – Jetson, Compton Shelly, Compton Baker and Rocklea Earle.

For Rocklea Earle, a rising five-year-old son of Barcia Bale and Paint Face, the win in the second heat of the Greyhoundtips.com.au Mixed Stake (400 m) was his 20th at start number 102.

A $16 chance in what was a pretty handy field, Rocklea Earle found the front down the back straight before running away to a two length win over Head For Home in 22.89 seconds.

In the first heat, Billy Bust Up and Gus Limes staged a great battle throughout with the former gaining the verdict by a half head in 22.91 seconds.

The winner, a son of Fernando Bale and Arkans Mabel, is trained at Ettrick by Adrien Chevalier who since early August has achieved a fair amount of success at Tara Raceway.

Rob Gore, of Warrnambool, enjoyed his most successful day at Tara Raceway after leading in a treble with Moonlight Haze, Moonlight Grand and Jimmy The Rat.

Moonlight Haze was chasing his first win at start number 14 when contesting the Cadillac Racing Maiden Stake (305 m) from box seven.

Slowly away, the black dog quickly found a rails run before finding the front off the back. And on the line he had established a 6¼ length winning margin over Bourne Munchkin in a time of 17.73 seconds.

Moonlight Grand was looking to make it two Masters wins in succession at Tara Raceway when jumping from box four in the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 Stake (305 m).

The daughter of Flying Ricciardo and Mossy Girl settled in third spot prior to taking the lead turning for home. She then held out Cadillac Belle to win by a half-length in 17.66 seconds.

Masters races are for greyhounds 3¾ years and older. Moonlight Grand, an August 2022 whelping, was one of the younger contestants. Her overall record now stands at 75 starts for 20 wins.

Actually, the oldest runner in the race was Kerry Hawker’s Cadillac Belle who finished in second spot, beaten a half-length. She’s a July 2021 whelping with 114 starts to her name and 18 wins.

Bringing up the Gore treble in the Commercial Hotel Stake (512 m) was Jimmy The Rat, the son of Fernando Bale and My Girl Kizzy a litter brother to earlier winner Moonlight Haze.

The black dog led all the way from box one, holding out the Chevalier-trained Miss Chapo to win by a half-length in 30.26 seconds.

And Lewiston trainer Clint Trengove, last successful at Tara Raceway in August over the distance with Nova’s Fern, landed a convincing win with Pretty Esmay.

The daughter of Bernardo and Esmay quickly found the front from box seven in the Williams Crane Hire Stake (305 m) before running out a 4½ length winner over Slippery Gypsy in 17.70 seconds.