Kongorong greyhound trainer John Little enjoyed his most successful day at the track in more than two years when landing a double with litter brothers Cricket Tragic and Bungaloo Bruiser at last week’s 2025 opening meeting at Tara Raceway.

Raced by Little in partnership with Liz Newberry and race day regular Jarrad Williams, Cricket Tragic brought up his fifth win after finishing strongly in the run home and defeating Cheques To Burn by a nose in the Cadillac Racing TG1-4W Stake (400 metres) in a tidy 23.33 seconds.

And Bungaloo Bruiser, raced by Little and Newberry, also chalked up his fifth win when clearing away turning for home in the Winning Post Supplies TG1-4W Stake (400 m) for a 5¾ length win in 23.63 seconds.

The litter brothers are by On Fire out of Springvale Alysa, a 22-race winner for Little who purchased her as a maiden after she had raced in Adelaide on three occasions.

The double was the trainer’s first since November 24, 2022 when he had been successful with Bungaloo Rachele and Bungaloo Brooke – also out of Springvale Alysa but by Fabregas.

For Little it had always been a case of being hands on the whole way through with both litters.

“We whelped both the litters here at Kongorong and then reared them on the property,” he said. “Then, after the pups reached breaking-in age it had been a case of countless trips into the Mount Gambier track to educate them.”

Still raised in discussions at the track from time is the day Little found himself with the only runner – Bungaloo Ebony – in a maiden race. That was on November 11, 2021 when the remainder of the field had been scratched due to unforeseen circumstances.

As far as the TAB was concerned, the 400 metre race was abandoned but Bungaloo Ebony still went around, clocking 23.96 seconds in what was a walkover. However, this turned out to be a profitable solo trial after Little collected first prize of $465 and a $1000 SA-bred bonus.

“I have to be honest, I reckon at start number 50 that was probably the only way she was ever going to win a race,” he said.

As it turned out, Bungaloo Ebony retired at the end of the following month with a record of one win from 57 starts.

Meanwhile, Parwan owner-trainer Troy Walters, who landed his first Tara Raceway winner back in August 2023 with Cawbourne Dior, was successful last week with Payton’s Pearl in the Greg Martlew Autos Maiden Stake (305 m).

Away well from box five, the black bitch never looked like being beaten at what was her 20th race start when leading all the way for a 3¼ length win over Compton Lily in 18.01 seconds.

Payton’s Pearl, a well-bred daughter of Mepunga Blazer and Georgia Rose, was picked up 12 months ago from NSW by Walters and his partner Crystal Verde.

“We’ve only been active participants in greyhound racing for a couple of years,” Verde said. “But with both our families having been involved Troy and I knew what we were letting ourselves in for.”