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.

It seems, not even a win by a greyhound carrying the name of Speechless could quieten flamboyant Berringa trainer Michael Niele.

A regular at the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club’s Thursday afternoon time-graded meetings at Tara Raceway, he was at the track again last Thursday with wife Vicki and a team of eight dogs.

And Niele enjoyed another good day after leading in two winners, two second placings and a couple of thirds.

Actually, his day kicked off with a quinella in the first race, the Sealeys Springworks TG5+W Stake (305 metres), after Fernando Lee defeated Kazakhstan by three lengths in 17.71 seconds.

Then, later in the day, in the Ferness @ Stud TG1-4W Fast Forward final (400 m), it was another quinella for Niele after only a length separated Speechless and Appellant in a time of 23.21 seconds.

By Feral Franky out of Darryl’s Dream, Speechless is one of four littermates to have raced and won for Portland owner Shirley Halliday and Niele.

Other winners from the litter include Kazakhstan, Shirl The Whirl and Slovakia. And recently joining his littermates was Ballarat winner Compute.

The Fast Forward series, run at the time-graded meetings, comprise two heats and a final twice monthly with the winners receiving almost double the prize money of the normal time-graded winners.

Also up for grabs every Thursday is the $50 meat voucher for the winning connections of the Collins Court Butcher Stake.

And Major Queen looked well placed in last week’s race, which was run over 400 metres for the TG5+W class.

Trained at Hamilton by Lorraine Goodwin, Major Queen quickly found the front from box five before running out a 2¼ length winner over Ivory Pygmy in a time of 22.98 seconds.

A well-bred daughter of Tommy Shelby and Princess Kiwi, the blue bitch has now won 10 races, all at the Mount Gambier track. In fact, 43 of her 44 starts have been at the local track.

One could probably be excused for thinking that Kyle Goodwin, standing in for mum, must have thought he had won the Melbourne Cup given his excitement at collecting the Collins Court voucher.

Meanwhile, landing his third win at Tara Raceway this year was the Koroit-based Ray Mahony owned and trained Lektra Hopper in the Cadillac Racing TG5+W Stake (305 m).

Always on the pace from box four, the son of Sennachie and Lektra Rainbow took up the running off the back before racing away to a 4½ length win over kennelmate Intuitive in 17.81 seconds.

Involved in greyhound racing for more than 50 years, Mahony purchased the black dog from Toolong breeder Phil Lenehan 12 months ago. The first win for his new owner was back in February this year at Tara Raceway.

In the Ontrack Insider TG5+W Stake (305 m), trainer Kerry Hawker’s pair – Cadillac Ragtop and Cadillac Belle – fought out the finish. And it was the former who ran out the winner by a neck in 17.90 seconds.

By Premier Fantasy out of Pamela Rocks, Cadillac Ragtop has now raced on 133 occasions for 36 wins. All but three of her starts have been at Tara Raceway, her first run resulting in a win over 305 metres on July 16, 2023.

Cadillac Belle, who has raced 113 times, all at Tara Raceway for 18 wins, also won at her first start back on October 8, 2023 when defeating Mr. Tandiki over 305 metres.

And making it a clean sweep for the Cadillac Kennels was the Captain Abbott owned and trained Close Shave who finished third when beaten by 2¼ lengths.

All up, the Edenhope-based Hawker and Abbott have now trained 22 winners each this year at Tara Raceway.

Terang-based Catherine and Mark Roberts also enjoyed a successful day last Thursday after they were successful with Rose Champagne and Glimmer Of Hope.

Bred, owned and trained by Catherine Roberts, Rose Champagne quickly took up the running from box one in the Trackside Pet Meats TG1-4W Stake (305 m) before running out a 4½ length winner over French Blonde in 17.94 seconds.

By US sire Kinda Cruel Red, Rose Champagne – a winner of three races – is out of Nyssa’s Girl, a daughter of Out Of Range and Mepunga Nyssa. She raced on 128 occasions for 11 wins.

Then, in the last race, the Carlin & Gazzard TG1-4W Stake (305 m), the Mark Roberts owned and trained Glimmer Of Hope found herself a clear last early from box two.

But the daughter of Good Odds Harada and Shim’s Heart railed through turning for home before running away to a three-quarter length win over Mocambora Mitch in 18.03 seconds.

A treble at Tara Raceway last Sunday with Huntsman, Compton Ava and Compton Shelly took locally-based trainer Tracie Price’s overall winning total this year to 200 – 143 of those wins at Tara Raceway.

Landing the milestone win was Compton Shelly, a daughter of Tommy Shelby and Rock It Barcia who stormed home for her 13th win from 34 starts in the Tara Tipsters Stake over 512 metres.

Compton Shelly never looked like losing, running out a five length winner over Moonlight Nellie, while a further 2½ lengths back in third place was Way Cool in a best of day time of 29.49 seconds.

The Tara Tipsters, a group of local greyhound racing enthusiasts, since 2021 have conducted a twice-weekly charity-based tipping competition at Tara Raceway.

At last Sunday’s race meeting once again the Tipsters had thrown their support behind a local charity. This time a donation was made to the Ryder-Cheshire Mount Gambier Home Foundation.

On track were a most appreciative Foundation board, comprising Matthew Dixon (President), Stuart Stansfield (Vice-President and Treasurer), Bernadette Douglas (Secretary) and Greg Clayfield.

Meanwhile, last Sunday’s meeting – one of the best for a while – comprised 12 races over all five distances ranging from 305 metres to 732 metres.

And the remarkable story of Blue Moon Marie continued when she stepped out over 732 metres for the first time in the Cadillac Racing Mixed Stake for Koroit trainer Peter Keane and local owners Noel Miller and Peter Lamond.

A daughter of Blue Moon Rising and Galactic Athena, this is the dog who fell from a trailer when returning from breaking-in and was later found tied to a farmer’s fence.

Then, after winning two races at Warrnambool, Blue Moon Marie suffered a severe injury which kept her on the sidelines for 12 months. She has now won a further three races since returning to the track earlier this year.

Lining up from box six, the brindle bitch quickly found the front and was never headed when defeating Chantane, who battled on well for Bulli owner-trainer Greg Wilson before going down by 3¼ lengths in 43.53 seconds.

The win of Dorset in the Commercial Hotel Maiden Stake (305 m) was Penshurst trainer Brendan Casey’s first success at the local track since early May when Penny Pinto defeated Harry Chana over 305 metres.

Having his second race start, the fawn dog jumped well from box four and held a handy lead early before Divine Poppy finished well in the run home to go down by a half head in 17.83 seconds.

By Beast Unleashed out of Our Magic Turbo, Dorset was purchased as a pup and reared by Casey before being broken-in by Peter Inguanti.

This is Our Magic Turbo’s second litter, her first – by Orson Allen – includes a couple of more than handy types in Mr. Fahrenheit who won in excess of $79,000 and Riendo ($87,000).

Ettrick trainer Adrien Chevalier’s recent good run at Tara Raceway continued after Billy Bust Up, a 400 metre winner last month, followed up with an impressive performance over 512 metres in the Federal Hotel Stake.

Raced by Chevalier in partnership with Johnny Watkins, Billy Bust Up led all the way in the grade six event for a seven length win over Jimmy The Rat in 29.94 seconds.

The black dog found his way over to SA through well-known Victorian owner George Farrugia who also bred the son of Fernando Bale and Arkans Mabel – the dam being a daughter of My Bro Fabio and the US-bred Arkans BD Spring.

Belair Betty, trained at Nullawarre by Trevor Steel, won her first race at Tara Raceway this year in impressive style when defeating the front running Compton Lizzie in the Gordon Refrigeration Mixed Stake (512 m).

The daughter of Aston Rupee and Mepunga Bella settled in second spot from box four before finishing strongly in the run home for a length win in a tidy 29.69 seconds.

Glencoe-based Dean Fennell, sitting in second place on the Leading Trainers list, landed a double with half-sisters Saint Kylie and Saint Bree, both of whom had been out of the winner’s list since March.

Saint Kylie led all the way from box one in the Greg Martlew Autos Stake (305 m) and brought up her second win at start number 23 when defeating Pretty Esmay by a length in 17.91 seconds.

And Saint Bree, chasing her 14th win, also led all the way in the Greyhoundtips.com.au Stake (305 m) and held on to defeat Harry Chana by a neck in 17.88 seconds.

Incidentally, the Peter Crawley trained Harry Chana’s last win had been in November 2025. Complementing the 119 start veteran’s six wins are now 51 minor placings.

For Dunolly-based Tara Malcolm, a regular at Tara Raceway Thursday time-graded meetings, it was a case of taking her involvement in greyhound racing to a new level last week with a dog called Puddin’ Cake.

Puddin’ Cake, a June 2022 daughter of Aston Dee Bee and Avatar Minty, had previously won two races from 35 starts at the local track when trained by Rick Boehm and Sandra Elmes. In fact, Tara Raceway is the only track she’s ever raced on.

Malcolm’s first involvement with greyhounds only came about early last year after she had called in to see if neighbours Boehm and Elmes had any jobs available.

“They were prepared to give me a go even though I had no knowledge of greyhounds. And I’m enjoying working with them on a part-time basis,” Malcolm said.

Puddin’ Cake’s last win had been back in February when successful over 305 metres. But by then Malcolm had been keen to become a trainer in her own right. And after obtaining her own licence in April she took over as owner-trainer of the red fawn bitch.

But after 15 starts over 305 metres at Tara Raceway for her new trainer that elusive first win still hadn’t eventuated.

“To be honest, I was starting to wonder whether there would ever be a first win for me with her. And last week certainly didn’t look that promising given that she was a $20 chance in the Ontrack Insider TG1-4W Stake (305 m),” Malcolm said.

But Puddin’ Cake was quickly away from box two and led all the way before holding on for a neck win in 17.97 seconds over Vapour Whirl who is trained at Langhorne Creek by Yvonne King.
And finally, an over the moon Tara Malcolm was on her winning way.

Then, in the following race, the Greyhoundtips.com.au TG1-4W Stake (305 m), Boehm and Elmes were successful with Little Button, an April 2024 daughter of Aston Rupee and Limit Switch.

Little Button and Dean Fennell’s Saint Kylie pretty well went stride for stride throughout with the former scoring a nose win in 17.96 seconds.

Langhorne Creek trainer Tony Hinrichsen was back at Tara Raceway chasing his first win at the local track since Lil Rex had been successful in a heat of the Trackside Pet Meats Autumn Classic (512 m) back in May.

Successful in a quick 29.35 seconds, that was his fifth win. A week later the son of Bernardo x Lily Pad ran second in the final to Big Diesel. But 12 more wins have since followed with Lil Rex now being set for the $50,000 SA Derby at Angle Park.

Hinrichsen had Hello Sweetheart engaged in last week’s Williams Crane Hire TG5+W Stake (400 m), the son of Aussie Infrared and Rumbling Away having previously won seven races in Queensland.

Rusty Wheels, looking to give Berringa trainer Michael Niele his second winner of the day after Fernando Lee had won earlier, flew the start from box four and certainly gave Hello Sweetheart something to chase.

And it wasn’t until the last stride that she grabbed the leader for a neck win in 23.15 seconds.

For Hinrichsen, it had been a phone call from leading Queensland trainer Tony Zammit that led to the fawn bitch finding her way to South Australia.

“She had won seven races up north but Tony was of the opinion that she might now be better suited down here, especially given that Hello Sweetheart is owned by four Adelaide tradies.”

Meanwhile, the Thursday afternoon time-graded meetings at Tara Raceway have received a boost following Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club sponsor Mick Lamond’s weekly Collins Court Butcher $50 meat voucher for a designated race.

Winner of last week’s voucher race was Myola Thalia, owned and trained at Purdeet by Annette Kampman whose last local winner had been Myola Nick back on Mount Gambier Cup day in April.

By Aussie Infrared out of Undercover Boss, Myola Thalia led all the way from box one for a 3¼ length win over Compton Bowie in 23.17 seconds.

Two heats of the Fast Forward 1-4 Wins (400 m) kicked off the meeting with the fastest six runners, irrespective of where placed, making up this week’s final.

Leading the qualifiers is the Kevin Patzel trained She’s A Tycoon, winner of the second heat in a time of 23.22 seconds. Other qualifiers are Appellant (M. Niele) 23.37, Adhana Roy (S. Baulch) 23.42, Linda Lou (D. Fennell) 23.52, Finniss Cheers (K. Goodwin) 23.53, Speechless (M. Niele) 23.62.

Reserves are Lektra Lee (J. Cameron) 23.65 and Mocambora Mitch (S. Blacksell) 23.82.