Come March and for Portland owner-trainer Neville “Nifty” Lenehan it’s been a case of Shima Moon finally finding form. This was after spending time on the sidelines due to a failing to chase suspension incurred at Ballarat prior to relocating to Portland.

A rising three-year-old, the red fawn son of Fernando Bale and Shima Glow (a winner of more than $71,000 in prize money), has raced on only eight occasions with her three wins all coming at Mount Gambier this month.

“There had been a few setbacks after I took her over last September from the Victorian-based Dailly kennels,” Lenehan said. “But this month he’s really got his act together – winning his maiden over 305 metres prior to a 400 metre grade six win in 22.80 seconds.

“I was always of the opinion that I wouldn’t see the best of him until he got out over 512 metres. To be honest, I hadn’t written off the Mount Gambier Cup with him. But first I had to get him in a race over that distance.

“So I nominated him for a 512 metre race at last Thursday’s time-graded meeting – not really expecting to gain a start. As it turned out, he was a reserve in the Metal Worx 1-6 wins mixed series final which carried considerably more prize money than a normal time-graded race.”

And Shima Moon gained a start from box five. After finding the front down the back straight he ran away to a four length win over Moonlight River in 29.38 seconds – the fastest 512 metre time run at Tara Raceway this year.

From a Mount Gambier Cup point of view, the Lenehan brothers, Nifty and Phil, will both be looking to emulate their father, Brian, who won the 1993 cup out at Glenburnie with Immortal Flash.

Phil had Lektra Beta, a quick 29.42 seconds winner over 525 metres recently at The Meadows, back there again last Saturday night prior to the Trackside Pet Meats Mount Gambier Cup heats on Sunday, March 29.

Meanwhile, Toolleen-based Nathan Mackay is a trainer who more often than not makes his presence felt when bringing greyhounds over to Mount Gambier to race.

And he went close in the first race last Thursday when Miss Bobbie led everywhere but on the line when going down by a half head to Speechless in the Cadillac Racing Maiden Stake (305 m) in 17.99 seconds.

Bred by the Mckay family, Miss Bobbie is by Aston Rupee out of Hunca Munca who won four races at Tara Raceway back in early 2022 for Terang trainer Mark Roberts.

But later in the day, Mckay, over with his daughter Alyssa, 17, made amends with Western’s Peach who led all the way from box two for a five length win over Sticky Fingers in 17.84 seconds in the Sealeys Springworks TG1-4W Stake (305 m).

The Gary Peach bred Western’s Peach is a daughter of Hooked On Scotch and Happy Lass. She was purchased by the Mackay family on the back of three unplaced runs.

“She had been coming off a season,” Mackay said. “Her last win had been back in November so it was good to see her find some of her old form today. One of her littermates in Western’s Nasiah, trained by Les Mitchell, is also going well, having won seven races and $17,000 in prize money.”

Leading trainer on the day was Berringa-based Michael Niele who was successful with Speechless, Rusty Wheels and Fernando Lee.

Kicking off his first treble this year at Tara Raceway was the Shirley Halliday owned Speechless, a daughter of Feral Franky and Darryl’s Dream, who overcame a slow start before finishing strongly and defeating Miss Bobbie.

Darryl’s Dream, is a daughter of Zambora Brockie and Miami Fernando and a litter sister to Amron Boy (22 wins, $674,000 prize money) and Amron Dan (17, $186,000).

Rusty Wheels, a son of Shima Shine and Salsa Monelli, brought up his second win at the track this month after leading all the way from box six in the Produce Store Stake.

On the back of three second-placings this year at Tara Raceway, Fernando Lee, a son of Fernando Bale and Acoustic Lee, opened his winning account in the Federal Hotel TG5+W Stake (305 m).

Last early, the black and white dog finished strongly in the home straight to defeat Cadillac Girl by three-quarters of a length in 18.02 seconds.

Also back among the winners at Tara Raceway was Allendale East-based trainer David Peckham who landed his third double of the year after Dimora Bernie and Jamarra were successful in the Ontrack InsiderTG1-4W Stake (305 m) and the Williams Crane Hire TG5+W Stake (512 m).