The first-up win of 18-month-old greyhound Fawn Beast in last Sunday’s Klaassens Contractors Maiden Stake (305 metres) at Tara Raceway brought up Compton trainer Tracie Price’s 100th winner this year at the local track.

And there have also been other winners this year for the widely-travelled trainer – at Murray Bridge, where he won the Straight Track Cup with Wild Banker, Horsham and Warrnambool.

The win of Fawn Beast would have brought back fond memories for Price of her dam Minnie Banjo who he won 16 races with in late 2021 and the first half of 2022 at Mount Gambier, Angle Park and Murray Bridge.

He also won 22 races in 2022 with litter brother Giant’s Flash, a son of Banjo Boy x Navada Flame, at Mount Gambier and Angle Park.

In fact, Minnie Banjo on February 6, 2022 ran a Mount Gambier 400 metre track record of 22.42 seconds which still stands today. Also still standing is Giant’s Flash’s 600 metre track record of 34.58 seconds which was run on December 4 of the same year.

Interestingly, it was in 2022 that Price’s 100 winners at the local track came up on July 24 when Minnie Banjo – who would race on only two more occasions – defeated Our Ando over 400 metres.

Five winners for Price on two occasions at Tara Raceway this year have certainly added to the tally.

On February 18 Compton Lass, Lakeview Heather, Current Model, Wild Star and Compton Charlie were successful as were Aston Zeppelin, Aston Cherokee, Hooked On Love, Aston Verona and Aston Butters on May 19.

And Price was also quick to heap praise on the people around him.

“Look, with an operation of this size you need plenty of reliable help on a day to day basis and at the track on trial and race days,” he said.

“My wife Karen and I are fortunate to have some terrific helpers – my kids Sarah and Ben as well as Garry Harding, Mo Canala, Hamish Thomson and Stuey, Pat and Liam Sharam. I can’t thank them enough.”

Meanwhile, Portland owner-trainer Nifty Lenehan was back at Tara Raceway with Smokin’ Chicken, a son of Allen Deed and Little Queeny, who three weeks prior had made his debut over 305 metres.

On that occasion, and after a poor start, the white and fawn dog had worked home well for a three length second placing behind Weblec Blossom.

Smokin’ Chicken stepped up to 400 metres last Sunday when jumping from box one in the Todd’s Photographics Maiden Stake. And he came out running, leading all the way for a 5½ length win over Lektra Twyla in a tidy time of 23.38 seconds.

Lenehan bred the litter in partnership with Penshurst-based John Cameron who had raced Little Queeny, a well-bred daughter of US sire KC And All and Lektra Kelly – a multiple 600 metre winner at Tara Raceway.

Little Queeny’s race record of two wins from 39 starts is not over-flattering but from his half of the litter Cameron has come up with a handy performer in Smart Operator who has now raced on 30 more occasions than Smokin’ Chicken and won five races.

Now, Lenehan and Cameron are looking to breed a second litter.

“We’re keen to have another go with her,” Lenehan said. “This time we’re looking at using Shima Shine who we reckon ticks all the right boxes when it comes to finding the right stud dog for her.”

It had been back on Sunday, March 24 that Southern Cross owner-trainer Garry Elliott last tasted success at Tara Raceway. On that day it was with Lightning Pest who won over the 512 metre journey in a quick 29.66 seconds.

Last Sunday he returned with Sit And Wait who had run second to Gypsy Chick at the previous meeting in what had been the son of Zipping Garth x Daniel’s Loss’s third run back from a lengthy spell.

Lining up from box one in the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 Stake (400 m), Sit And Wait led all the way when defeating Lektra Layla by 3¾ lengths in 23.19 seconds.

And according to Elliott, this was a win to savour.

“He was purchased from Ipswich at the end of last year after having won six races but it wasn’t until March that he won at Warrnambool. Soon after he broke a hock and to be honest I didn’t really expect that he would race again.

“Five months later, though, he resumed at Warrnambool where he was well beaten at his first two runs back. However, they were pretty tough races so I decided to bring him over to Mount Gambier.

“I reckon that has worked pretty well.”

And at Angle Park on Monday night the Captain Abbott owned and trained Top Cadillac stormed home to run third over 530 metres. He now looks set to play a big part in Mount Gambier’s SA Country Cup heats on Sunday afternoon.