For part-owners Jason Newman and Melissa Freitag of Moorak and Murray Bridge-based Derek Anderson it’s been a long road that has no turning as far as their luckless greyhound Mr. Anderson has been concerned.

A son of Bernardo and Dusseldorp, the red fawn dog was a finalist in last year’s Group 3 Mount Gambier Cup (512 metres) won by Titan Blazer after defeating Wharfie in a heat in a time of 29.41 seconds.

Then, later in the year Mr. Anderson, who was bred at Allendale East by David Peckham, defeated Mac’s Damage in a heat of the Group 2 Bendigo Cup (425 m). The final was ultimately won by Alpha Zulu in 23.49 seconds.

Not long after was when the rot set in. He won at Horsham over 485 metres in 27.24 seconds but in doing so earned the displeasure of the stewards with a failing to chase suspension.

“At the time Mr. Anderson was being trained at Avalon in Victoria by Danny Gibbons,” Newman said. “And while he quickly passed a satisfactory trial at Geelong it wasn’t long after that he injured a back leg muscle.

“All told he was off the scene for something like seven months. And, to be honest, when he did finally return to the trial track he looked to be a broken dog when running 24.40 seconds over 400 metres at Tara Raceway.

“But by the time he resumed over 342 metres at Angle Park early this month he had lowered his trial times by a considerable amount.”

When Mr. Anderson stepped out at Mount Gambier last Sunday from box one in the Metal Worx Open Stake (400 m) it had been his first time at the local track under race conditions since the 2023 Mount Gambier Cup final on April 2.

And he’d come a long way in that seven months. Leading all the way, he held out Tracie Price’s smart pair of Wilder and Myall Jack to win by 2½ lengths in 22.91 seconds – an equal personal best time.

“He’s now an SA dog and will see out his racing days here at Moorak. But after what he’s been through we’re more than happy with that,” said Newman.

For Mortlake owner-trainer Peter Franklin it’s not quite like his halcyon days at Tara Raceway when greyhounds such as Ireland’s Oyster, Mojito Mayhem and McIvor Verna were carving out track records for over 400, 512 and 600 metres.

Also, thrown in for good measure were a Mount Gambier Cup and a couple of Anniversary Cups won by Mojito Mayhem.

But for all that, Franklin is doing pretty well at Tara Raceway with his giveaway greyhound Moonlight Kiss, a daughter of Orson Allen and Mepunga Fame, a winner of 16 races and $92,000 in prize money.

Drawn in box one, the white and black bitch was chasing her eighth win at Tara Raceway when taking on a handy field of grade five greyhounds in last Sunday’s Gambier Vets Stake (512 m).

Settling in second spot, the rising 4½-year-old Moonlight Kiss railed through on Saint Tommy off the back before running out a 2½ length winner over Honey Rocks in a best of day 29.75 seconds.

In Franklin’s kennels since August 2022, this is another story of patience and perseverance.

“She had raced in August 2023 before tearing a hip support – not once but twice. Finally, I opted to relocate her to where she would be housed in a long run and continue to be active.

“All up, this turned out to be a nine-month exercise with Moonlight Kiss resuming at Horsham in May 2024 and her win on Sunday coming at her fourth start back.”

Franklin said he was now giving serious consideration to breeding with Moonlight Kiss, given her strength and bloodlines.

“As far as a sire goes, I’m looking at Silver Brute, a son of Aston Dee Bee and Weeping Lass and still racing for Cape Clear owner-trainer Gary Peach.

“All told, Silver Brute has raced on 99 occasions for 63 wins and close to $300,000 in prize money. He’s predominantly a short-course dog but with Moonlight Kiss possessing plenty of strength I thought it could be an interesting match-up.”

Meanwhile, Just Alfie, raced by the Bartholomew family of Worrolong and trained at Finniss by Lauren Harris, strung together his third successive win at Angle Park on Monday night.

Stepping up to 595 metres for the first time, the son of Hooked On Scotch and former top stayer Miss Bellawood never looked in any danger of defeat when scoring a 7½ length win over $1.90 chance Baez Jinx in 34.56 seconds.