It was a busy day last Thursday for Koroit greyhound educator-trainer Peter Byrne and his 15-year-old son Talor who had eight runners engaged at Mount Gambier’s time-graded meeting at Tara Raceway.

And at the completion of the 12-race program they’d landed two winners – Saint Shell and Majestic Jewel – both greyhounds trained in the name of the boys’ wife and mother, Narelle.

Bred and reared by Peter Byrne, Saint Shell is by Tommy Shelby – a winner of 31 races and a million dollars in prize money – out of Victorian city winner Mepunga Prue.

Lining up from box two in the Hyland Fox Maiden Stake (400 metres), the brindle bitch had no trouble in bringing up her first win at start number three when leading all the way for a 4¾ length win over Mt. View Barkley in 24.03 seconds.

Majestic Jewel won her second race for the year when leading all the way in the final race, the Ary Sports Bar & Bistro TG1-4W Stake (400 m), for a 4¾ length win over Yadillah Son in 23.46 seconds.

“I picked her up after she had won a maiden back in late 2021,” Byrne said. “A few months later, she was sent to Melbourne. But when blowing a certain win at Sandown Park after losing concentration she soon found her way back to Koroit – and that’s where she’s been ever since.

“Actually, she’s one of those ‘back me next week’ dogs. She often tends to appear unlucky in her races and more often than not leaves you with the feeling that next week will be the week. Generally it’s not.”

There was no time to be hanging around Tara Raceway after the double. The team of eight was quickly loaded and Peter and Talor – an outstanding junior footballer – were back on the road and heading for footy training.

And, later that night, Byrne’s top stayer Moraine Suzie was contesting the Victorian National Distance Final over 730 metres at The Meadows.

Last for much of the journey, Moraine Suzie stormed home to finish second to Zoha Bale, beaten less than four lengths. And in doing so, the daughter of My Redeemer and Miss Bo Wicked collected $3335 and took her prize money earnings to $274,160.