Last Thursday’s Mount Gambier time-graded meeting was a good day for three giveaway greyhounds – and their respective owners who had all been out of the winner’s circle for some time.

Coleraine owner-trainer Steve Colpoys had been chasing his first win since last December when Storm Shelter was successful at Tara Raceway.

And Remo Trigger, lining up for her eighth start – her first for Colpoys – gave nothing else a chance in the Klaassens Contractors Maiden Stake (305 metres) when leading all the way and defeating Kevin’s Lane by six lengths in 17.82 seconds.

By Fear Zafonic out of Traralgon winner Remo Gully, the diminutive 23½ kilogram Remo Trigger ran third at Tara Raceway at her previous start when trained by Colpoys’ brother Robert who is based at Bass.

“I didn’t think the run was all that bad given that she had worked home well but Robert was keen to move her on so with no dogs racing I said I’d take her as a giveaway,” Steve Colpoys said.

“It’s certainly good to be out walking again with a greyhound in the pine forest. And it’s good to be back at the track.”

For Josh McDonald, the all the way win of Fried Giblet when defeating Two Broke Girls by three lengths in the Commercial Hotel TG1-4W Stake (400 m) in 23.77 seconds broke a 3½-year run of outs for the Murtoa owner-trainer.

“Yes, it was back in early 2020 that I last won a race here with Magnet Force,” said McDonald. “A daughter of Peter Rocket and Maisy Mac, she also won at Ballarat, Bendigo and Horsham.

“All told, she won eight races and is certainly the best dog I’ve been associated with in my five-year involvement in the sport.”

Fried Giblet, a daughter of Orson Allen and 11-race Victorian provincial winner Nella Bale, was picked up as a giveaway from Bendigo by McDonald at the beginning of last month.

“Today was her first run for me as I had experienced a few problems in getting a start with her prior to coming over here,” he said. “And the win was a great thrill after all this time.”

But not everything went to plan last Thursday for McDonald.

“Here I was all loaded up and ready to head home. The only problem was the van wouldn’t start. So I called out the RAA but they also were unable to get it started.

“Fortunately, club manager Mark Dwyer was still on course and he very kindly rang Compton trainer Tracie Price to see if he was able to help with a vehicle.

“And Tracie really saved the day. He couldn’t have been more helpful and got me out of a really tight spot. I certainly can’t speak highly enough of him,” said the 40-year-old electrician.

McDonald said he had picked up the Mercedes van five years ago for $5000 after it had done 648,000 kilometres.

“Today was the first time I had ever experienced any trouble with it so I guess I can’t really complain.”

Local owner Mo Canala was back among the winners for the first time since November 2019 when Little Lina had been successful over 400 metres.

This time it was with Lakeview Jet who recently found himself in Canala’s ownership after local trainer Tracie Price had given the son of Bernardo x Lakeview Maisey to her in appreciation of her help on race days.

Previously a winner at Sale and Horsham, Lakeview Jet had found plenty of trouble at his first two Tara Raceway starts when finishing seventh and second respectively.

But in last Thursday’s Produce Store TG1-4W Stake (400 m) the black dog virtually led all the way when defeating Stormin’ Frank by 1½ lengths in 23.34 seconds.

Little Lina raced on 85 occasions for three wins although one of those actually came about after she finished in second place but was awarded the race when the winner was subsequently disqualified.

Incidentally, Little Lina was a 16th birthday present to Canala from Cape Bridgewater owner-trainer Scott Blacksell.

These days, the 22-year-old Canala leads a pretty busy life. As partner of Matt, mother of 9-month-old Patrick, undertaking teacher placement, working towards her own greyhound trainer’s licence and helping out Price at race meetings.