Meningie trainer Tim Richards took training honours with three winners at Mount Gambier’s meeting last Sunday. And this was his best day at Tara Raceway since July 11, 2024 when he trained four winners – Manner Of Strife, Flash Gordon, Ricki’s Burner and Sir Patrick.

Big Diesel kicked off his treble in the Greg Martlew Autos Stake (400 m). Chasing his first win at the track, the son of Bernardo and Rhonda Lily was only fairly away from box six before finding the rails running down the back.

And by the time he turned for home he had put himself right in the race, finishing strongly when defeating Val’s Legacy by 1¾ lengths in 23.11 seconds.

Purchased as a pup by Richards from Tracie Price, the black dog is a litter brother to Compton Gypsy who lines up in the St Leger final (530 m) for Price at Angle Park tomorrow night.

Mr. Oberon maintained his unbeaten record over 305 metres at Tara Raceway when leading all the way from box one and holding out Gus Limes in the Cadillac Racing Mixed Stake for a 2¼ length win in 17.64 seconds.

The son of Feral Franky and Perseverance, who has now won 15 races, is a litter brother and kennelmate to Cantara Pearl who was successful at last Thursday’s Tara Raceway meeting for Richards’ partner Tanya Bialek.

And Bialek was also among the winners on Sunday with the Richards-trained Ritza Wotton, who she races in partnership with Millicent-based Mark Dwyer. The blue brindle dog scored a big win in the Carlin & Gazzard Mixed Stake (512 m).

Away well from box eight, the son of Fernando Bale and Ritza Gloria never looked in danger of defeat when leading all the way for a seven length win over Magic Tom in 30.02 seconds.

Purchased mid-year in 2025, the NSW-bred Ritza Wotton brought up the Richards treble and has now won 10 races in South Australia.

Meanwhile, Dale Bunn was over from Tylden with his wife Karen last Sunday. And he had a story to tell when it came to Dominate, a son of Allen Deed and Penelopes Cruzn, who he had engaged in the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 Stake (305 m).

“Put simply, Dominate is one of those dogs more often than not on the injured list. Actually, by the time we arrived here in Mount Gambier last Sunday he had been almost two years without a win.,” Bunn said.

“The last time I was here in Mount Gambier with him was back in May last year when he was beaten by 15 lengths in a 400 metre event. It then took close to six months to get him back on the track.”

Lining up from box two, Dominate was last out of the boxes but he never left the rails. And on the home turn the black dog was sitting in second spot before finding the front on the line for a head win over Harry Chana in 18.03 seconds.

“I’m not sure that was a win worthy of a two-year wait,” Bunn said. “But I’ll take it anyway.”