Flying Ricciardo x Miami Fernando litter brothers Way Cool and High Cube gave Portland trainer Robert Halliday and his wife Shirley a good start in the first round of last Sunday’s two heats of the inaugural Trackside Tri-Distance series.

Sponsored by Trackside Pet Meats, the first of the opening heats, over 512 metres, allocated the seven runners points ranging from 10 down to two in order of finish. The second heat carried points of 10 down to three for the six runners.

And Way Cool overcame box six to settle in third spot down the back before finishing strongly in the run home to defeat Kia Keeping by 1¼ lengths with a further half-length back to Trading Halt in third spot in a time of 30.03 seconds.

Over last Sunday from Simson were Jaz Blake and her husband Calum who had the Brooke Young owned Rivia Umiko – last a winner at Tara Raceway in February – engaged in the second heat of the Tri-Distance series.

Leading all the way from box seven, the daughter of Fernando Bale and Rivia Bale brought up her tenth win for Blake and Young when defeating High Cube by 1¾ lengths in a personal best time of 29.87 seconds. And picking up points for third was Chuck A Party.

This Sunday will see the contenders take on the second round, this time over 305 metres. The leading point scorers from the first two rounds will then contest the 400 metre Tri-Distance final on Sunday, June 21.

After last Sunday’s first round, scoring for the two heats is: Heat 1 – Way Cool 10, Kia Keeping 8, Trading Halt 6, Bomb Rocky 5, Oregon Caldwell 4, Rough Boy Rocky 3, Compton Chinook 2. Heat 2 – Rivia Umiko 10, High Cube 8, Chuck A Party 6, Bali Unleashed 5, Dimora Bernie 4, Duran Rachel 3.

Meanwhile, back at Tara Raceway last Sunday after having been laid-up for some time with a severe ankle injury, was Robert Taylor of Warracknabeal.

His involvement with the local track goes back to Sunday, April 6, 2014, together with owner Gordon Thompson and a greyhound called Noble Haste who was having his first start at the track in the Barry’s Door Services Stake over 512 metres.

And the son of Heston Bale x Mandy Shiraz led all the way from box four when defeating Nicole Stanley’s Wyndham Star by eight lengths in a best of day time of 29.77 seconds.

Taylor was back last Sunday with a couple of first starters in Franky’s Cash and Nulla Danny Boy. Also on track was Debbie Musgrove, the owner of Redeem Our Cash, the dam of Franky’s Cash, who is a son of Feral Franky.

Lining up from box five in the Williams Crane Hire Maiden Stake (305 m), Franky’s Cash led all the way when defeating Bourne Reagan by three-quarters of a length in 17.94 seconds.

The black dog, one of five young greyhounds Taylor currently has in work, is owned by a local builder from over Warracknabeal way in Lachie McGinniss who had previously raced only one other dog.

For Taylor, it’s a case of having been involved in the sport since the Horsham Greyhound Racing Club’s opening night back on December 16, 1973. These days he’s also the vice-president of the Horsham club.

He rates one of his better dogs as Nitro Georgie, a daughter of Fernando Bale and Nitro Cee, who was successful at Horsham, Ballarat and Warrnambool during 2020-21.

Ray Mahony, Lorraine Goodwin and Tracie Price shared training honours at last Thursday’s Tara Raceway time-graded meeting when leading in doubles.

Southern Cross-based Mahony kicked off his day with a win in the Gordon Refrigeration TG1-4W Stake (305 metres) with giveaway greyhound Lektra Hopper.

By Sennachie out of Lektra Rainbow, the black dog, who gained a run as a reserve, was always on the pace when jumping from the inside before finishing strongly for a 2½ length win over Pressure Point in 17.90 seconds.

Mahony’s double came up in the Quickmix Concrete Group Maiden Stake (305 m) when French Blonde ran down early leader Little Button and won by 1¾ lengths in 18.04 seconds.

By Good Odds Harada out of Shell Star Keats, the fawn bitch is another of the Seaspray-based Boreland family’s greyhounds to find her way into Mahony’s kennels.

The double was his first at Tara Raceway in more than two years after littermates Sweet Secret and No Strings had been successful on May 12, 2024. By SH Avatar out of Zipping Tatum, the pair had also been bred by the Boreland family.

Jaja Ding Dong, a daughter of Beast Unleashed and Storm To Burn, was back among the winners again for Hamilton trainer Lorraine Goodwin when leading all the way from box eight for a 1¼ length win over Bomb Rocky in 23.62 seconds.

And bringing up her fifth double this year was Major Queen, the nicely bred daughter of Tommy Shelby and Princess Kiwi leading all the way from box two and holding out Just Johnnie to win the Trackside Pet Meats TG5+W Stake by three-quarters of a length.

Tracie Price’s big day kicked off at Tara Raceway in the Federal Hotel TG1-4W Stake (305 m) when Compton Baker, despite running wide on the home turn, finished strongly for a win over the early leader Shanny Rose by three-quarters of a length in 17.90 seconds.

And in the Collins Court Butcher TG5+W Stake (305 m), Compton Lass, having only her second start back since October, quickly found the front from box two before running out a 3½ length winner over Fernando Lee in 17.60 seconds.

But the leading trainer’s day wasn’t over just yet. Later that night at Angle Park, Price had Statue Of Time engaged in the time-honoured Shane McQueen feature event final over 595 metres.

Owned by Justin Tribe, the son of Aston Fastnet and Pretty Much was well back early before storming home for a terrific 1¾ length win over Echoes Of Dad in 34.57 seconds.

Meanwhile, back at Tara Raceway and Voss Ali made up for lost time when leading all the way from box one in the Sealeys Springworks TG5+W Stake (400 m) and defeating Close Shave by 5½ lengths in 23.16 seconds.

Owned at Murray Bridge by Becc Weinert, the February 2022 son of Barcia Bale and Sweet As Emm is now trained at Allendale East by David Peckham. And it’s been a case of the black dog finding winning form again – his last win being at Ballarat back in November 2024.

Also last Thursday, the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club (MGGRC) hosted the Rainbow Club on track at Tara Raceway which is situated on Lake Terrace East.

While it was chilly outdoors, the Rainbow Club members enjoyed the trackside comfort of the refurbished clubrooms. They also witnessed a great day’s racing and combined with a nice selection of food on the menu they look sure to return.

The Rainbow Club is a prominent adult social and recreational support program operated by Country Health Connect at the Mount Gambier Community Health Service. It is designed to provide a safe, engaging environment for older community members.

The MGGRC welcomes all community clubs and organisations to the track for a fun family day in comfortable surrounds. Admission is free.

Local greyhound trainers, owner/attendants and breeders were back in school last Saturday at Tara Raceway for animal welfare and injury prevention training which are among the requirements of the Ashton Review.

Greyhound Racing SA’s industry-wide training program is aimed at strengthening animal welfare standards and reducing injury rates across the sport. All relevant participants will be required to complete the training by June 30.

The in-person training was conducted at Gawler last Tuesday and at Angle Park on Saturday morning with Mount Gambier taking a live stream from that track. The final training session will be at Murray Bridge on Wednesday night.

It was back in 2021 that Edenhope-based Kerry Hawker and Captain Abbott, of Cadillac Racing, first became associated with progeny of Pamela Rocks, a daughter of Barcia Bale and Punk Rock Lass who had won races at Shepparton and Bendigo.

Based at Bendigo, she whelped her first litter – by Matt’s Entity – in May 2019 with Hawker and Abbott later purchasing Gold Rocks and One Tonne to race at Tara Raceway where the littermates both won races.

And when Pamela Rocks whelped her second litter in April 2021, this time by Fernando Bale, they opted to purchase the whole litter which ultimately included multiple winners Cadillac Lloyd, Cadillac Magic, Cadillac Rocks and Cadillac Star.

By the time her third litter came along in February 2022, the Cadillac team actually owned Pamela Rocks and had mated her with the imported sire Premier Fantasy.

This time around, among the progeny was Cadillac Landau, a winner of 19 races from 102 starts and Cadillac Ragtop who was successful last Sunday at Tara Raceway when winning the Federal Hotel Mixed Stake (305 metres).

Chasing her 36th win and always on the pace from box three at what was her 126th start, the black bitch ran out a half-length winner over Something Good in a time of 17.70 seconds.

Speaking after the win, a delighted Kerry Hawker said the 11-year-old Pamela Rocks these days was thoroughly enjoying her retirement at the Cadillac Kennels.

The win of Inga Noah in the first race, the Klaassens Contractors Maiden Stake (305 m), gave well known Camperdown greyhound educator Vito and his wife Mary Inguanti their first success at Tara Raceway.

Having his fourth race start, the August 2024 blue dog quickly found the front from box five and in what was a tight three-way finish scored a head win over Moonlight Haze with a further half head back to Cinta’s Me Mum in 17.97 seconds.

The win was a real family affair with Inga Noah handled by son Peter who said the litter comprised of five blue dogs by Tommy Shelby out of Inga Mia. He was also hopeful of bringing some of those over to race at Tara Raceway.

Inga Mia’s first of three litters, by Bali Unleashed, includes handy types Inga Amy, Inga Buddy and Inga Johnny.

Later in the day, Peter went close to training a winner in his own right after Something Good ran a half-length second to Cadillac Ragtop.

“Our involvement in greyhounds goes back some 30 years,” he said. “These days my parents look after the breeding side of things while I run the breaking-in track.”

As far as greyhounds from the past that the family has been involved with, he rates Settlement Day, a son of My Redeemer and Miss Energiser, and a winner of 18 races and $74,000 in prize money, as one of the better ones.

And given Peter Inguanti’s involvement with greyhound tracks over a long period of time, it was interesting to hear his view on Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway.

“I have to say I was most impressed with the track here. With a finish-on lure fitted with a loud squeaker it certainly does its best to encourage the greyhounds in their pursuit of the lure.”

Later in the day, Warrnambool trainer Linda Gore’s Moonlight River was back among the winners for the first time since August last year. And given the manner in which the black dog won, it was certainly a case of making up for lost time.

The son of Cosmic Rumble and My Girl Kizzy quickly found the front from box one before running out a 12¾ length winner over Ollie Limes in the Icon Signs Stake (512 m) in 29.74 seconds.

The win came on the back of wins four days earlier at Tara Raceway where Our Girl Selkie and Moonlight Grand were successful for Linda and Rob Gore.

Oregon Janet wrapped up a busy week for Lewiston trainer Lucas Trengove when leading all the way last Sunday in the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 Stake (732 m) for a four length win over Noel Perry’s Compton Rocky in 43.71 seconds.

It had been a busy week for the Trengove-trained daughter of Malachi and La La Oregon who in the space of a week had contested three distance races – two at Tara Raceway for two wins and the other at Angle Park for a second on the Thursday night over 730 metres.

And it had been a change of luck for the OB Flat-based Perry in the following race, the Commercial Hotel Stake (400 m), after Trading Halt settled in second spot from box five behind Penny Pinto before finishing the stronger for a half-length win in 23.39 seconds.

With 119 starts to his name, Magic Tom certainly doesn’t have any trouble finding his way around Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway – especially given that’s the only track he’s ever raced on.

Whelped in March 2022, the son of Bernardo and Saint Maddie, commenced his racing career over 305 metres in August 2023 and won his maiden over 400 metres for Glencoe owner-trainer Dean Fennell in November of that year.

His past 92 starts have all been over 512 metres with his most recent win coming at last Thursday’s time-graded meeting in the Williams Crane Hire TG5+W Stake.

Magic Tom was always on the pace from box four before taking the lead from Weblec Polly down the back and running out a three-quarter length winner in 29.95 seconds. All told, he has now won 13 races and run 37 minor placings.

Meanwhile, some of the greyhounds who figured prominently in the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club’s Autumn Classic final on May 10 once again performed well in last Thursday night’s Howard Ashton feature (530 m) at Angle Park.

The Tim Richards trained Big Diesel, a son of Bernardo x Rhonda Lily, defeated Tony Hinrichsen’s Lil Rex (Bernardo x Lily Pad) in the Autumn Classic. Finishing fourth was She’s A Jumbo, also trained by Richards, and Big Diesel’s litter sister.

Then, in the Howard Ashton final Lil Rex finished strongly when defeating She’s A Jumbo. Running third was Compton Gypsy, also by Bernardo x Rhonda Lily and bred and raced by Tracie Price of Compton. And giving Bernardo the first four in the Howard Ashton final was Big Diesel.

And back at Tara Raceway on Thursday afternoon was another of the Bernardo x Rhonda Lily litter in Jetson. The black dog led all the way in the Ontrack Insider TG5+W Stake (400 m) when defeating Lenny Limes by 2½ lengths in 22.91 seconds for Ben and Tracie Price.

Dunolly-based Rick Boehm, a regular at Mount Gambier’s Thursday time-graded meetings, finally broke through again last week with Miracle Man in the Sealeys Springworks TG1-4W Stake (400 m).

The white and brindle son of My Redeemer and Avatar Minty quickly found the front from box two and then turned the tables from a fortnight ago on short-priced favourite Lektra Lee for a 1¾ length win in 23.33 seconds.

For Miracle Man, the win was his third overall from 40 starts and his first this year after a win at Tara Raceway back in early December last year.

The day started well for Linda and Rob Gore of Warrnambool after littermates Our Girl Selkie and Moonlight Haze fought out the Quickmix Concrete Group Maiden Stake (305 m).

By Fernando Bale out of My Girl Kizzy, it was a case of the $15 chance Our Girl Selkie upsetting her short-priced $1.40 brother when leading all the way for a 1¾ length win in 17.71 seconds.

Later in the day, the Rob Gore owned and trained Moonlight Grand gave nothing else a chance in the Collins Court Butcher TG5+W Stake (305 m) when leading all the way from box five for a 6½ length win over Just Johnnie in a time of 17.44 seconds.

Training honours for the day went the way of Hamilton-based Lorraine Goodwin who was successful with Lie To Me in the Federal Hotel TG5+W Stake (305 m) and Energy To Burn in the Cadillac Racing TG5+W Stake (305 m).

Lie To Me, a son of Bernardo and Habits To Burn, chased Compton Lass – having her first start since last October – into the home straight before finishing the stronger for a three-quarter length win in 17.56 seconds.

And Energy To Burn, by Beast Unleashed out of Storm To Burn, quickly found the front from box one before scoring a comfortable two length win over Saint Bree in 17.61 seconds.