For Southern Cross owner-trainer Ray Mahony, and his rather large female greyhound Intuitive, her win in last week’s Da’Leni Meats TG5+W Stake (305 metres) was her first at Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway since the end of 2024 when she defeated Harry Chana.

And leading all the way from box four, the 32.9 kilogram daughter of Aston Kimetto and Disputive never looked like being beaten last week. On the line she had 6¾ lengths to spare over My Girl Kellie.

Bred by the Boreland family of Seaspray in Victoria, Intuitive had won her maiden for Mahony in Mount Gambier at start number three when defeating Bungaloo Bruiser in 17.82 seconds in May 2024.

But her past 25 starts had all been at Warrnambool and had resulted in only one win.

“I thought it was probably time to get her back to Mount Gambier and a change of track. And she certainly looked a different dog when bringing up her up her fourth win behind the finish-on-lure,” Mahony said.

Intuitive has now won seven races and more than $16,000 in prize money while Mahony also previously enjoyed success at Tara Raceway with half-brother Grumpy Sailor (by Zambora Brockie), a winner of nine races and more than $23,000.

And another of the Boreland breed in Sweet Secret – by SH Avatar x Zipping Tatum – has performed well at Tara Raceway for the trainer who has been involved in greyhound racing for more than 50 years.

“She never went a yard at her first three race starts at Warragul and Warrnambool. But three months later she won her maiden over 305 metres at Mount Gambier and since then hasn’t raced on any other tracks.

“All told, Sweet Secret has also won over 400 metres, 512 metres and 600 metres, having won 13 races and more than $25,000 in prize money,” Mahony said.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Khris and Beck Blake lined up at Tara Raceway with Bendigo-based Duran Rachel who is raced by fellow family members Aaron and Mary Blake.

Boasting strong imported bloodlines, Duran Rachel, a daughter of Ballymac Kingdom and Fabriola Duran was purchased from the Victorian-based Dailly Greyhound Farms.

But the $26 chance was rated little hope from box eight when taking on long odds-on favourite Is He Happy in box one in the Thank You Todd & Bronwyn Nicholson Stake (305 m).

However, Duran Rachel defied the odds when taking her record at the track and distance to 10 starts for six wins after defeating Bulsara by 1¼ lengths in 17.96 seconds.

Killarney owner-trainer Kevin Mugavin landed a second litter double in as many weeks with Good Value and Eric Quirk, the sons of Aeroplane Eric and Cloona Lass successful in the Commercial Hotel TG1-4W Stake (305 m) and Quickmix Concrete Group TG5+W Stake (400 m).

Good Value, who won his maiden at Warrnambool 12 months ago, broke through for his second and third wins at Tara Raceway’s January 22 and 29 meetings this year – his win last week coming after he led all the way and held on to defeat Cantara Pearl by a half head in 17.89 seconds.

Eric Quirk was always travelling like a winner from box four when leading all the way, and for the second consecutive week, defeating Magic Nancy – this time by 5¼ lengths in 22.98 seconds.

And Meningie trainer Tim Richards book-ended the meeting with Extravagantly in the Produce Store Maiden Stake (305 m) and Ricki’s Burner in the Sealeys Springworks TG5+W Stake (400 m).

Whelped in May 2023, Extravagantly had his first race start at Tara Raceway in December for Longlea trainer Ian Garland. He also bred the son of Zambora Brockie and Auspicious Queen, a winner of 10 races and $60,000 in prize money.

However, following the unplaced run behind Jetson, Extravagantly was transferred to Richards. And at Tara Raceway last week the black dog settled in second spot behind Saint Ella before finishing strongly in the home straight for a 2½ length win in 18.07 seconds.

The final race of the day saw Ricki’s Burner, a son of Flying Ricciardo and Gold Burner, chasing his first win since October last year at Murray Bridge.

Away only fairly from the outside, the fawn dog settled in second spot behind race favourite Is He Lucky before railing through on the home turn and running out a 1½ length winner in a personal best time of 23.08 seconds.

So for the Meningie training team of Richards and Tanya Bialek it turned out to be something of a mixed bag with the latter’s Cantara Pearl going down by a half head to Good Value and Bulsara running second to Duran Rachel.