Bungaloo Josh opened Kongorong trainer John Little’s winning account at Tara Raceway this year when he defeated Bungaloo Darcy in the fourth heat of the Fast Forward series over 400 metres at Tara Raceway last Thursday.

With five heats being run, the fastest eight greyhounds, irrespective of finishing positions, then advance to Thursday’s final which carries Category 2 prizemoney.

Bungaloo Josh comfortably stitched up a spot in the final when leading all the way in the Carlin & Gazzard MG heat. Carving out a time of 23.69 seconds, he had 2¼ lengths to spare over his litter brother who worked home well.

As it turned out, Bungaloo Darcy’s time of 23.85 seconds was also quick enough to see him make the final. And litter sister Bungaloo Rachele, after showing plenty of early pace in the Exchange Printers heat, also made it through when running second to Snap Shot in a time of 23.87 seconds.

So, in what has been a real hands-on exercise, Little has three of his Fabregas x Springvale Alysa litter through to the final.

He trained Springvale Alysa to win 22 races before breeding with her and rearing the resultant litter of six on his property. Then followed breaking-in at the Tara Raceway trial mornings.

Five of the six have now been successful for a total of 16 wins. It’s hands-on again, though, this time with her second litter – nine March 2022 pups by On Fire.

Scrubber, owned and trained at Portland by Nifty Lenehan, looked anything but a dog that had raced on seven occasions for one win back in September last year and no placings when contesting the Commercial Hotel heat.

By Zambora Brockie out of Lektra Brandy, the fawn dog let loose off the back before running away to a six length win over Compton Angel in 23.59 seconds – the equal fastest of the heats.

Matching Scrubber’s time was My Madonna in the Metal Worx heat. The brindle daughter of My Redeemer and Raz’s Girl was caught up in traffic early from box four but burst from the pack turning for home and ran away for a 2¾ length win over Katoni.

And Malcolm Keenan must be wondering why it took him 78 years to finally take out a trainer’s licence. After all, My Madonna has now had four starts for the Tarpeena trainer for three wins and an unlucky second.

Katoni finished third behind the Keenan-owned Master Shameem in last month’s Fast Forward final after gaining a start as a reserve for Glenroy trainer Richard Clayfield.

However, the son of Magic Sprite and Majestic Tale is through to this month’s final on his merits after clocking 23.78 seconds.