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.

With the age-restricted $10,000 Trackside Pet Meats Spring Classic (512 metres) to be run at Tara Raceway in November, last Sunday’s meeting saw a few of the early contenders in action over a variety of distances.

The series, originally known as the Winter Classic, was first run by the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club in August 2014. It was won by the Tracie Price trained Stylish Moment (Spring Gun x Nicky’s Moment) in a time of 30.27 seconds.

For greyhounds whelped on or after July 1 two years prior, last year’s classic took on a name change. Now known as the Spring Classic, the heats and final series is also run several months later – this year on November 1 and 8.

Complementing the Winter Classic had been the Summer Classic which was run in February for greyhounds whelped on or after January 1 two years prior. This is now known as the Autumn Classic and run in May.

And while the race names have changed for the $10,000 classics, eligibility remains the same for both the age-restricted events.

Toolong trainer Phil Lenehan was always going to hold a strong hand in last year’s inaugural Spring Classic final. After all, he supplied half the field – Lektra Unhinged, Lektra Solo, Lektra Beta and Lektra Jane.

Three of his “Lektra” finalists in Solo, Unhinged and Beta – all July 2023 whelpings and giving away absolutely nothing in age – certainly took full advantage of the inside boxes when opening up a handy break down the back straight.

But it was Lektra Beta, a son of Tommy Shelby and Lektra Perry, who took the lead in the home straight before running out a 1¼ length winner over early leader Lektra Unhinged in 29.73 seconds.

Meanwhile, back at Tara Raceway last Sunday, and the Federal Hotel Maiden Stake (305 m), from an age point of view, included several Spring Classic contenders.

A greyhound by the name of Brian, having only his third race start, scored a big win from box eight when defeating Bourne Munchkin by 7½ lengths in 17.71 seconds.

Raced by Elysia, Lee and Steve Bartholomew, and trained by the latter at Worrolong, Brian is a September 2024 whelping by Tommy Shelby out of Galactic Destiny, also the dam of Divine Nature, a winner over the middle-distance in Melbourne.

Bourne Munchkin, owned and trained by David Peckham at Allendale East, was having her first start. And the strong lines of McInerney and Sweet On Me perhaps suggest the August 2024 whelping could be better suited over more ground.

Dave Green’s winning run continued in the Greyhoundtips.com.au Stake (400 m) after Moonlight Nellie brought up her third successive win at Tara Raceway for the Millicent trainer.

Away well from box five, the Linda Gore-owned Moonlight Nellie led all the way from box five for a 4½ length win – her fifth from 15 starts – over Princetown Flyer in 22.84 seconds.

Being another September 2024 whelping also puts the daughter of Fernando Bale and My Girl Kizzy right in the classic mix, especially given that her dam won over the 715 metre journey at Sandown Park.

And in the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 Stake (512 m), Magpie Spice, on the back of consecutive wins over 400 metres, handled the step up in distance when defeating the seasoned performer Lemon Pepper by a length in 29.74 seconds.

A daughter of Fernando Bale and One More Burn, the October 2024 white and black bitch, who led all the way from box two, is trained by Hamilton-based Lorraine Goodwin. She has now won five races from 10 starts with Magpie Spice.

Three months too old for the Spring Classic, Cinematic continued on his winning way last Sunday in the Quickmix Concrete Group Stake (400 m) for owner Geoff Collins and trainer Rosalyn Hume of Wattle Flat.

Chasing his fifth consecutive win, the brindle dog, once finding the front, ran away with a convincing four length victory over Rough Girl Ruby in 23.05 seconds.

By Aston Rupee out of Cosmic Blend, a winner of 31 races, Cinematic was bred by Collins, who said after Sunday’s win that he was keen to try the April whelping over 512 metres with a view to contesting the forthcoming Country Cup at Mount Gambier.

Leading local trainer Tracie Price wrapped up a pretty handy weekend after Compton Lizzie was successful in the Sealeys Springworks Stake (512 m) and Huntsman defeated Harry Chana in the Masters (305 m).

And on the Friday afternoon he had been successful at Murray Bridge when landing five winners – Canya Feel It, Rock It Roger, Compton Stella, Canya Nameless and Compton Ava.

For the Hamilton-based mother and son training team of Lorraine and Kyle Goodwin, last week more or less went to plan with Surprise Star acquitting himself well in a heat of the Judy Hayley Memorial at Sandown Park.

The long-running memorial is a proud Sandown tradition and a race unlike any other given that it is open exclusively to female trainers.

And Lorraine Goodwin’s blue son of Tommy Shelby and Princess Kiwi made his way through to the September 3 final over 515 metres after running second to Da Souza in the first of two heats.

The memorial stands as a powerful symbol of Hayley’s legacy – championing women in the sport, lifting others through opportunity and leading with heart, integrity and resilience.

The race attracts a competitive and respected field. It honours not only her incredible contribution but also the many women forging their own paths in greyhound racing.

Then, at the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club’s time-graded meeting at Tara Raceway on Thursday afternoon, kennelmates Cheques To Burn and Major Queen fought out the finish of the Ontrack Insider TG5+W Stake (400 m).

Perhaps appropriately, it was a case of the Kyle Goodwin trained Cheques To Burn, at her 100th start, leading all the way from box two and hanging on to defeat Major Queen by a nose in 23.08 seconds.

The daughter of Beast Unleashed and Storm To Burn – currently sitting in third spot on the Mount Gambier Leading Dams list – has now won 21 races at Tara Raceway.

Meanwhile, Mocambora Jack, owned and trained at Cape Bridgewater by Scott Blacksell, continued his consistent form at the local track with a win in the first, the Greg Martlew Autos TG1-4W Stake (305 m).

The white and blue son of Hooked On Scotch and Mocambora Izza quickly took up the running from box five before scoring a length win over Noble Rascal in a personal best time of 17.80 seconds.

All told, Mocambora Jack has raced on eight occasions at the track with the February 2025 whelping having now registered two wins and six minor placings.

And Noble Rascal’s second placing was also the start of a successful day for the Stout Monelli x Adele’s Entity litter – bred at Ettrick by Adrien Chevalier.

Stout Monelli, who holds the Angle Park 595 metre track record in a time of 33.68 seconds, raced on 99 occasions for 44 wins and more than $408,000 in prize money. Adele’s Entity won 10 races and $28,000 in prize money.

A litter trifecta followed in the next race, the Cadillac Racing Maiden (305 m), after Black Sabotage, owned and trained by Meningie-based Tim Richards, led all the way for a 5¼ length win over kennelmate Black Destiny in 17.85 seconds. Picking up third was the Chevalier-trained All I Ask.

In the following race, the Commercial Hotel TG1-4W Stake (305 m), Tanya Bialek’s Cantara Gypsy brought up a double for the Stout Monelli litter after leading all the way from box eight for a 3½ length win over Eskimo Ruby in 17.87 seconds.

Ironically, in the Greyhoundtips.com.au TG1-4W Stake (400 m), Chevalier had Zipping Keys, a daughter of Don’t Knocka Him and Zipping Zarbo, engaged in box eight.

The blue brindle bitch, who had won her maiden earlier in the month at Tara Raceway, quickly found the front and held on to score a neck win over the Richards owned dog Black Stingray.

As it turns out, Black Stingray is another of the Stout Monelli x Adele’s Entity litter bred by Chevalier who in this case turned the tables on Richards.

Berringa-based Michael Niele, a long-time supporter of Tara Raceway Thursday meetings, took the training honours at last week’s time-graded meeting after leading in a double with Fernando Lee and Rusty Wheels.

Owned by Shaun and Terry Wilson, Fernando Lee brought up his 12th win at start number 50 after leading all the way from box five for a four length win over Myles Keeping who was having his first start at the track.

And for the son of Fernando Bale x Acoustic Lee, it had been a case of running a personal best time of 17.62 seconds in the Icon Signs TG5+W Stake (305 m).

The Ashley Baker owned Rusty Wheels, who tips the scales at a solid 38 kilograms, was quickly into stride from box one in the Produce Store TG5+W Stake (400 m). And he had three-quarters of a length to spare on the line over Magic Nancy in 23.40 seconds.

The double was Niele’s first at Tara Raceway since May when he had been successful with Appellant and Kazakhstan.