Representatives of the Mount Gambier Cancer Support Group were on course at Tara Raceway last Sunday for the running of the Tara Tipsters Stake which was a classy grade five race over 512 metres.

And taking up the early lead from box three was Major Queen over Magic Tom and Duran Nirvana. But off the back it was Duran Nirvana, a winner at the track earlier in the month, who found the front before scoring by 3¼ length win over Magic Tom in 29.69 seconds.

Raced by Sarah Barbetti, of Ballarat, the winner carries the imported bloodlines of Ballymac Kingdom and Fabriola Duran and is trained at Dennington by Dustin Drew.

The Cancer Support Group, one of a number of local charities to benefit from the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club Tara Tipsters competition, was presented with a cheque after the completion of the race.

Receiving the donation was Lorraine Musgrove who sincerely thanked the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club and the Tara Tipsters for their continued support.

“Our role is to help people with cancer and their families who need financial support,” she said. “This includes accommodation, food, fuel and chemist vouchers along with assisting with medical out of pocket expenses.”

And Dustin Drew also spoke well when acknowledging the role of the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club and the Tara Tipsters and their contribution to local charities.

“Let’s face it, these days greyhound racing is copping more than its fair share of negative publicity. It’s so unfortunate that endeavours such as those here at the Mount Gambier track don’t always receive the recognition they deserve.”

Distance racing over 732 metres, albeit in a four-dog form, was back at Tara Raceway last Sunday thanks to Lewiston trainers, father and son team Clint and Lucas Trengove, and the locally-based Noel Perry.

Contesting the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 Stake (732 m), it was Nitro Neo who took up the early running over Oregon Janet and Compton Rocky.

But it was 18-year-old Lucas Trengove’s Oregon Janet who assumed the lead down the back the second time around with the Perry-trained Compton Rocky left to do the chasing.

And in the run home, it was Trengove’s stayer, a daughter of Irish sire Malachi (Definate Opinion x Ballymac Razl) who ran out a 3¼ length winner over Compton Rocky in a time of 43.81 seconds. The winner is also a half-sister to local chaser Oregon Caldwell.

For Trengove it was his fourth staying win with the black bitch after taking her over in late January and winning three 730 metre races at Angle Park leading into last Sunday’s win.

And young Trengove made it a double for the day after Adhana Martina took the lead off the back in the Ontrack Insider Stake (512 m) before running out a 1½ length winner over Trust Deed in 30.00 seconds.

Only joining his kennel this month, the daughter of Collision and Zipping Nebraska has now raced on three occasions for a 530 metre win at Angle Park and last Sunday’s success.

Also landing a double was long-time trainer Rob Jehu who these days is based at Macarthur. Kicking off his successful day was Super Symon, a son of Superior Panama and Rattlin’ Home.

Leading all the way from box five in the Produce Store Stake (305 m), the black dog scored a one length win over Saint Bree in 17.73 seconds.

Off the track between August through until February this year due to hock issues, Super Symon has since won a further three races – two at Mount Gambier and also one at Horsham.

Jehu’s double came up in the Federal Hotel Stake (400 m) with High Cobber bringing up his second win from 12 starts after settling in third spot.

By Koblenz out of Mighty Mrs, High Cobber finished strongly in the home straight for a head win over Aston Telmont in 23.17 seconds.

The double was Jehu’s second this year at Tara Raceway after Around Outside – a litter brother to High Cobber – and Super Symon had been successful back on Sunday, March 8.

Meanwhile, at Murray Bridge last Sunday night, five heats were decided of the Daish Irrigation & Fodder Group 3 Murray Bridge Cup (455 m).

And fastest of the heats was Compton Gold who ran 25.40 seconds for Compton trainer Tracie Price. Another local greyhound through to the $50,000 final is Galactic Nemesis, trained at Finniss by Lauren Harris and owned by Robert Chuck, also based at Compton.

The draw: 1 Fantastic Spike (25.53), 2 Destroying (25.57), 3 Kisauni (25.53), 4 Compton Gold (25.40), 5 Spritely Sian (25.54), 6 My Picasso (25.50), 7 Solicit (25.4), 8 Galactic Nemesis (25.55). Res. Flying Artie (25.58), Take The Steps (25.64). Final to be run on Sunday, May 24.