It had been 12 months since Murtoa owner-trainer Josh McDonald had last been successful at Tara Raceway – with a greyhound by the name of Aphrodite Sally.

But at last Thursday’s time-graded meeting he was back among the winners at Mount Gambier with Marma Phantom, successful at his third race start when defeating Menari Ace in the Metal Worx Maiden Stake (305 metres).

A short-priced favourite on the back of two second placings, the white and black dog was slowly away from box seven but once finding the rails finished strongly for a three-quarter length win in 18.47 seconds.

And for Menari Ace, having her 36th start – the majority of those for OB Flat owner-trainer Noel Perry – it had been a case of bringing up her 17th minor placing.

McDonald also had Marma Phantom’s litter brother Bone Stock engaged in the same race, the son of Fernando Bale and Ear We Come filling third spot on the back of two previous fifth placings over the short course at the local track.

But according to McDonald, it hadn’t been all plain sailing with the pair.

“I picked them up in Victoria as unraced giveaways and to be honest I did encounter a few problems prior to actually getting them on the track. It was certainly good to be back today and among the winners again,” he said.

He won his first race at Tara Raceway back in December 2019 with a greyhound called Magnet Force. That win had resulted in 25 per cent of the prize money being donated to the Wimmera Southern Rural Outreach program – helping people in psychological and situational distress.

Magnet Force was purchased as a pup by McDonald who later named the black bitch in memory of Brad “Magnet” Hall, a mate who had died 12 months prior at the age of 42.

Meanwhile, long-time Coleraine participant Bob Wombwell, who was racing greyhounds in the early days at Glenburnie, continues to enjoy success with his Eskimo-prefixed four-year-old Sennachie x Serene Rose litter.

At last Thursday’s meeting it was Eskimo Gem who brought up her seventh win when leading all the way from box one in the Icon Signs TG5+W Stake (512 m) and defeating Rough Girl Mel by 6¾ lengths in 30.07 seconds.

And at Sunday’s Category 2 meeting, Eskimo Moana caused a huge upset in the Metal Worx Stake (400 m) when defeating Wind Whiskers by a neck in 23.30 seconds.

Jumping from box two, Eskimo Moana settled in second spot before taking the lead turning for home and hanging on for her first win since last July – at odds of $50.

Seven members of the litter have won races with the two standouts being Eskimo Roger and Eskimo Larry, winners of nine and 12 races for prize money of $41,400 and $33,000 respectively. All told, the litter has won 42 races for a total of more than $100,000 in prize money.

Keen to continue the line, Wombwell had earmarked Eskimo Fly – a winner of six races and $16,000 in prize money – as his next brood bitch.

“Unfortunately she missed after recently having been mated,” Wombwell said. “But I’m still keen to keep the line going and will look at having her mated again the next time she is in season.”

There’s still plenty of spring in the step of rising six-year-old Crymelon Ivy judging by her effort in last Thursday’s Winning Post Supplies TG1-4W Stake (400 m).

The brindle daughter of Hawk Alone and Crymelon Holly came out running from box six and led all the way when defeating Pate Biscuit by 1¾ lengths in 23.67 seconds.

The veteran chaser was having her 151st start when bringing up her fifth win for Warracknabeal owner-trainer Ian Bibby – a Tara Raceway regular in more recent times at the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club’s weekly Thursday time-graded meetings.

And Bibby, also the Horsham Greyhound Racing Club president, recently bred a litter out of 11-race winner Butternut, a daughter of David Bale and Pah Leeze, using Crymelon Ivy’s litter brother Crymelon Comet as the sire.

“Crymelon Comet was another member of the litter who just seemed to go forever – and from a racing point of view that was after he missed the first half of 2023 with injury,” he said.

“All told, he raced on 156 occasions for 14 wins and more than $57,000 in prize money after never reaching his full potential. His last win had been here in Mount Gambier back in February over 400 metres.”