While the locally owned Big Boy Jett had been chasing his first win on the track since March, he still went to the boxes as a $2.70 favourite in last Sunday’s Robert and Janet Stafford final over 512 metres at Tara Raceway.

And the black dog then proceeded to make a real mess of his grade five opposition after leading all the way from box one for a 4¾ length win over Penny Pinto in a personal best time of 29.87 seconds.

Also bred locally by Steve Bartholomew of Worrolong, Big Boy Jett is by Blue Moon Rising out of Galactic Athena – winner of the 2019 Mount Gambier Cup when trained by Bartholomew for Robert Chuck.

Big Boy Jett was purchased as a pup by his owners, Noel Miller and Commercial Hotel publican Peter Lamond. After breaking-in he then found his way over to Koroit and long-time trainer Peter Keane.

“He actually won his maiden at his third start back in February when running 22.20 seconds over the 390 metre journey at Warrnambool,” Keane said. “And at the time I had been of the opinion that he could be some chance of going on with the job.

“But by the time he lined up for last Sunday’s race he had won only once more – a grade six over 512 metres at Tara Raceway in a steady 30.53 seconds. And to be honest, he appeared to be lost in the wilderness.

“He certainly turned things around in the final, though. And I was really pleased with his effort against a fair sort of field. We now may give some consideration to having a crack at next month’s SA Country Cup heats (512 m) and hopefully represent Mount Gambier in the Angle Park final.”

Mortlake trainer Peter Franklin landed his first local double in more than three years when Dell Mister and Ringer’s Girl were successful for Laharum owners Steve and Vanessa Lenehan.

Dell Mister is by Aston Rupee out of Fugacious, a winner of 15 races and more than $30,000 in prize money for Jeff Guy, a former Tara Raceway regular.

The blue dog brought up his eighth win when leading all the way from box seven in the Quickmix Concrete Group Stake (305 m) and defeating Berringa Paddy by 2¾ lengths in 17.51 seconds.

It was a three-way go for Ringer’s Girl, a daughter of Aston Rupee and Two Phones, who fought out the Williams Crane Hire Mixed Stake (512 m) with Aston Darwin and Silk Sonic and hung on for a half-length win in 30.07 seconds.

Franklin’s last double had been back in May 2022 when he had been successful with Impactus in the Greg Martlew Autos Stake (400 m) and Sugar Freak in the Gordon Refrigeration Stake (400 m).

Also successful that day for Guy had been King Crow, a son of Fernando Bale and Dark Smiffy, and a litter brother to Fugacious.

Edenhope trainer Captain Abbott’s win in the first race with Close Shave certainly didn’t go as the greyhound’s name suggested when he ran out a 5¾ length winner over Aston Gosset in the Federal Hotel Maiden Stake (305 m).

Lining up from box one, the son of Razor’s Edge and Grandana Quality was having only his second start for Abbott, running second the week prior to Fozzy’s Boy over 400 metres.

“My partner, Kerry (Hawker) recently picked him up for me for $750 from Geoff Collins of Victoria as an 82nd birthday present. And I thought he went pretty well when running a smart 17.58 seconds,” Abbott said.

Back at Tara Raceway last Sunday for the running of the Cadillac Racing Stake (400 m) was former Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club manager Mark Dwyer of Millicent.

He was on course to watch Ritza Wotton, a recent second greyhound acquisition, attempt to make it two wins in a row in SA following first-up success at Gawler earlier in the month.

Raced together with Tanya Bialek, the partner of Ritza Wotton’s Meningie-based trainer Tim Richards, the blue brindle son of Fernando Bale and Ritza Gloria never looked in any danger of defeat.

Away well from box three, he quickly found the front and was never headed, eventually running out a 4¼ length winner over odds-on favourite Naughty Norm in a quick 23.02 seconds.

Given that the run had been the former NSW-based Ritza Wotton’s first at the Mount Gambier track, there had been a fair bit to like about the effort. Actually, Dwyer’s two-dog team, headed by 21-race winner Canya Striker, looks to have just got a whole lot stronger.