Last Thursday was a long day for Millicent trainer Dave Green who undertook the testing solo journey to Adelaide and back to race giveaway greyhound Tigger’s Run in a mixed stake over 595 metres at Angle Park.

A $40 chance, the son of Cosmic Rumble and Mossy Girl had run second over 530 metres at the city track earlier in the month. But there was no joy last week when he ran a 6¼ length fifth in the five-dog field.

And it was after 10 p.m. by the time Green headed back to Millicent with his brindle dog.

“It’s always a long drive home when things don’t go to plan on the track,” he said. “But I managed to survive the ordeal by taking a power nap along the way.”

However, it was a different story at Tara Raceway’s meeting last Sunday when Tigger’s Run lined up from box eight in the Greg Martlew Autos Mixed Stake (600 m).

Only fairly away, Tigger’s Run settled in third place down the back straight behind a couple of handy middle-distance chasers in the odds-on favourite Aston Malle and Skye Made Me.

In the run home, though, he finished powerfully when defeating Skye Made Me by a neck in his best winning time of 35.11 seconds. This was his fourth win for part-owners Green and Jarrad Williams and his first since the end of October.

Speaking after the win, Green said he was now looking at the forthcoming Tankman 600, a middle-distance race that has been one of the supporting events on Mount Gambier Cup final day for a number of years.

Meanwhile, Nullawarre couple Trevor and Elizabeth Steel are glad they listened to well-known Koroit greyhound man Peter Byrne when he suggested they come over and have a look at Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway.

“And we’re certainly glad we took heed of his advice because we really love the track,” Trevor Steel said. “In fact, I’ve now signed up as a club member as have Nullawarre-based Ashley and Joy McDowall whose greyhound Boggy Dozer I also brought over today.”

It’s now close to 30 years ago that Steel purchased his first greyhound for $300 – a pup by Major Fleet out of Sandown Belle who later raced as Stilson.

“He won 20 races, his final win coming at his 121st start which just happened to be his last race. Stilson was trained by John Drennan who in 1998 landed the Mount Gambier Cup quinella after Manawartoo defeated Stilson,” Steel said.

“Another successful greyhound we were associated with was Foxzami Muzza, a son of Dyna Double One and Mulwee Dream who won eight races in 2018-2019 at The Meadows and Warrnambool before being transferred to NSW.”

Elizabeth’s first win at Tara Raceway was on October 1 when Hey Tootle defeated Lynette Ann by 6½ lengths over 400 metres in 23.37 seconds. And Trevor opened his winning account on February 4 with Belair Ric, successful by 4¼ lengths over Bungaloo Fire in 23.54 seconds.

Belair Ric, according to his trainer, has really taken to Tara Raceway. He is one of eight greyhounds in the Steel kennels and was back at Tara Raceway last Sunday to contest the Hyland Fox Stake (400 m).

Always on the pace from box eight, the black dog finished off the race well for his second win when defeating Barra Banjo by 1½ lengths in 23.53 seconds.

By Flying Ricciardo out of Mepunga Bella, Belair Ric is owned by Geoff Wickham who also bred the litter. He is the first dog Steel has trained for his neighbour.

And the Tara Tipsters Sunset Community Kitchen Chase for Charity wrapped up this week with Kevin Patzel taking the lead after round two and then never headed.

The highest score recorded for the series which commenced on January 4 and ends on February 29 was Craig Grubb’s 41 points on January 21.

The next Tara Tipsters Cup will be run over 512 metres for grade six greyhounds at Tara Raceway on Sunday, March 10. Representatives from the Sunset Community Kitchen will be on course to receive a Tara Tipsters donation.

On Thursday, March 7 the Chase for Charity will resume with the Tara Tipsters contributing to Foodbank. This series will conclude on Thursday, May 2.