Glencoe husband and wife team, Dean and Edna Fennell, both served up longshot winners at Tara Raceway last Thursday after Saint Bree landed her second local success this year and Magic Poppy her first.

Saint Bree, a $13 chance, led all the way from box four in the Ontrack Insider TG5+W Stake (305 m) and held out Fernando Lee to win by a half-length in 17.91 seconds. The win was the tenth for the daughter of Fernando Bale x Mepunga Stellar who has raced only at Mount Gambier.

Later in the day, $34 chance Magic Poppy, a daughter of Feral Franky and Perseverance, led all the way from box two in the Williams Crane Hire TG1-4W Stake (400 m) for Edna Fennell. This was also the Fast Forward final and resulted in Magic Poppy collecting the first prize of $1065.

This year has been a good start for Dean Fennell who currently sits in third spot on the Leading Trainers’ list – a fair distance behind tearaway leader Tracie Price but trailing second-placed Tim Richards by only two points.

Greyhound-wise, there hasn’t been a lot happening in recent times over at Penshurst, a Victorian town in the Shire of Southern Grampians and located at the foot of Mount Rouse, an extinct volcano.

But Penshurst-based John Cameron, a retired painter and decorator and long-time hobby greyhound owner-trainer, was back at Tara Raceway last week chasing his first win for 2026 with Lektra Lee in the Da’Leni Meats TG1-4W Stake (305 metres).

By Plaintiff out of Lektra Viki, Lektra Lee had won his maiden last month in Mount Gambier over 305 metres in a tidy time of 17.93 seconds before finding his way to Penshurst as a giveaway.

And it didn’t take Cameron long to get back among the winners after Lektra Lee led all the way from box one for a five length win over Sticky Fingers in a best of day time of 17.81 seconds.

Down from Ettrick was Adrien Chevalier who had Vista Argon, a son of Aston Rupee and Gypsy Vista, engaged in the Greg Martlew Autos TG5+W Stake (400 m).

Chasing his first win since August last year at Murray Bridge, the fawn dog settled in second spot behind Aston Ramona before taking the lead turning for home. He then hung on for a head win over Jaja Ding Dong with a further half head back to Aston Ramona in 23.83 seconds.

Raced by Murray Bridge schoolteacher Andrew Beaven in partnership with several soccer mates, the win was Chevalier’s second with the 40 kilogram giant who was a feature distance finalist last year.

Warracknabeal trainer Ian Bibby’s rising five-year-old Orson Fury led all the way from box two at start number 117 when defeating Cabao Marble by a length in 23.44 seconds in the Cadillac Racing TG5+W Stake (400 m).

Orson Fury’s last Tara Raceway win had been on July 31, 2025 when he defeated kennelmate Crymelon Comet who, as a 190-start rising seven-year-old, finished fourth behind Vista Argon at last week’s meeting.

Bulsara, another rising five-year-old and at start number 118, lined up from box seven in the Commercial Hotel TG5+W Stake (305 m) for Meningie owner-trainer Tanya Bialek.

Always on the pace, the son of Barcia Bale and Molly Be Nimble then finished strongly out wide in the home straight for a neck win over Duran Rachel with a further head back to Cadillac Girl in 17.98 seconds.

Training honours for the day – by way of a double – belonged to Berringa-based Michael Niele whose last Tara Raceway winner had been on November 13 last year with Berringa Paddy.

Niele’s winning day last week kicked off with Nicked Again in the Sealeys SpringworksTG5+W Stake (305 m). By Fernando Bale x Acoustic Lee, the brother to Berringa Paddy was well back early before gaining a rails run and finishing strongly for a two length win over Cadillac Landau in 18.04 seconds.

And in the final race, the Icon Signs TG1-4W Stake (400 m), Niele’s box one runner Appellant led all the way for a 5½ length win over Adhana Lulu in a time of 23.16 seconds.

A son of Plaintiff and Paua Of Mindy, Appellant had been chasing his second win last week after winning a maiden at Ballarat over 390 metres at the end of last year.