Toolleen greyhound trainer Nathan McKay, whose first local success was back in June 2022 with Mad Brax, continues to periodically visit the Mount Gambier track and more often than not heads back in the general direction of Bendigo with a winner.

He was back for last Thursday’s time-graded meeting, some of the family in tow, as well as long-time mate Mark Anstice who was at Tara Raceway for the first time after making the trip over from Horsham with children Regan and Lennox.

“We go back a long way,” McKay said. “In fact, to our school days, so it was terrific that he could make the trip over and even better that his dog No Billy Tea could give him his first win at this track.”

Having her first race start, No Billy Tea quickly took up the running from box eight in the Winning Post Supplies Maiden Stake (305 metres) before holding out Can Get Thirsty for a length win in 18.11 seconds.

“The 305 metre distance here has really worked out well for her because initially I had been keen to race her over the short course but there’s not a lot on offer where we are,” McKay said.

By Raw Ability, No Billy Tea is out of Black Chevelle, a winner of 18 races in Victoria and Tasmania. She’s also the dam of an earlier litter by Bernardo which includes Blue Sky Boy, a winner of nine races at Tara Raceway,

Anstice, a fly-in fly-out worker in WA, first became involved in greyhound racing in 1999 when he was based at Warracknabeal.

He manages the Five Wise Guys Syndicate which races No Billy Tea and also includes Dean, Tim, Trevor and Wade who are based in WA. Previously the syndicate raced Forced Entry who won six races in WA.

“We purchased today’s winner as a three-month-old pup from Drouin breeder Tristan Dales. She was then reared in NSW prior to Nathan taking her over to train after breaking-in,” Anstice said.

All told, it wasn’t too bad a day for McKay who also collected a couple of minor placings.

Crude, also bred by Dales, ran a 1½ length second to Cadillac Belle in the Ary Sports Bar & Bistro TG1-4W Stake (400 m). And Lucky Fernando ran Victa Indi to a half-length in the Metal Worx TG5+W Stake (400 m).