First it was the thoroughbred Ever Hoping who back in the late 1980s won nine races and ran nine placings for his part-owner – local racing tragic Kevin “KD” Douglas.

Currently, he has a share in a pacer, also called Ever Hoping who has raced on 30 occasions for 11 wins and 12 placings.

And at Tara Raceway on Thursday it was Ever Hoping the greyhound who won on debut for Douglas and co-owner and trainer David Peckham of Allendale East.

By Collision out of Lochinvar Sheike – a winner over 618 metres at Richmond and 731 metres at Gosford – Ever Hoping led all the way in the Gambier Vets Maiden Stake (305 metres) for a 2¼ length win in 17.82 seconds.

“She came over as part of a package deal, which also included this year’s Mount Gambier Cup runner-up Lochinvar Cahill, from NSW breeder Kevin Gordon,” Douglas said.

“But as far as Ever Hoping was concerned there had been some frustrating times with her due to injuries so it was pleasing to see her finally put it altogether in a reasonable sort of time.”

Later in the day, Glenroy trainer Richard Clayfield landed his second winner for the year at Tara Raceway with Katoni, a son of Magic Sprite and Majestic Tale.

A winner at the track back in January, the black dog virtually led all the way in the Hyland Fox 1-4W Stake (400 m) when defeating No Joke by 2¼ lengths in a personal best time of 23.28 seconds.

Katoni actually kicked off his racing career with Clayfield at Tara Raceway almost 12 months ago.

“At the time I thought he was close to winning his first race but at his sixth start he injured a toe and returned to his owner, Damien Smith of Murray Bridge East,” Clayfield said.

“Then in September he won two races up the straight at Murray Bridge before coming back down here in December.”

Majestic Tale, a daughter of Collision and Crystal’s Voice, was a winner of 16 races and $20,500 in prize money prior to whelping litters by Aston Dee Bee, Spring Gun, Magic Sprite and Hooked On Scotch (yet to race).

And from a racing point of view Clayfield has had a hand in all of the litters.

“Aston Dee Bee’s litter included Diva’s Secret and Fab Six who both won here as did Shimmy Sharna who all up won 11 races stretching from Broken Hill to Mount Gambier.”

But Clayfield’s favourite from the litter was always Glenville Rose who had been given to him as a pup by Smith.

“Her racing career finished in February this year with a record of 135 starts (all at Tara Raceway) for 16 wins and 42 minor placings.”

The front-running Miss Sniper – by Spring Gun – raced in Mount Gambier on 10 occasions for one win and nine minor placings before finding her way to WA.

A couple of Katoni’s littermates in Potch and Tuivasa also kicked off their careers in Mount Gambier with wins over 400 metres and 305 metres respectively.