Warrnambool Greyhound Racing Club president Rob Gore and his wife Linda were back racing at last Thursday’s time-graded meeting at Tara Raceway.

And the pair, whose collective involvement with greyhound racing spans more than 40 years, enjoyed a good day at the Mount Gambier track on the back of the previous night’s time-honoured Group 2 Warrnambool Cup meeting in which they had been heavily involved.

Winner of the cup was Matt Loch who became the first greyhound since the legendary Indian Fighter 62 years ago to win back-to-back Warrnambool Cups.

Not only that, Matt Loch also ran a track record time of 24.64 seconds over the 450 metre journey. This lowered Dutch Riot’s previous record of 24.66 seconds which had been set in 2023.

A son of Aussie Infrared and Stepping, this year’s winner and track record holder was bred and is owned and trained by Michelle Mallia of Avalon.

Speaking at Tara Raceway on Thursday morning, Rob Gore said the Warrnambool Cup meeting had been very successful.

“The meeting attracted a good crowd which included local dignitaries who had been more than happy to listen to what we had to say. And adding to the atmosphere had been the return on the night of TAB and bookmaker facilities.”

Linda Gore’s first visit to Tara Raceway had been in February 2023 when she had been successful with Hurricane Hazel, a daughter of Cosmic Rumble and Mossy Girl – and a litter sister to local stayer Send It Blue who is still racing.

At the end of last month she had won at Tara Raceway with Moonlight Jazz who defeated Tattooist over 305 metres in a maiden in a time of 17.99 seconds.

And the daughter of Cosmic Rumble and My Girl Kizzy handled the step up in class last Thursday in the Klaassens Contractors TG1-4W Fast Forward heat over 400 metres.

Settling in second spot, Moonlight Jazz finished strongly in the home straight when defeating Lady Bombshell by a length in 23.39 seconds.

The husband and wife team rate My Girl Kizzy, a daughter of Mepunga Blazer and Mepunga Rosie, as the best greyhound they’ve been involved with.

“She won 11 races and $70,000 in prize money in a 47-start career that saw her successful in a heat of the 2020 SA Oaks at Angle Park. Later she won over 715 metres at Sandown Park,” said Rob Gore.

Later in the day he completed a husband and wife double when Moonlight Grand virtually led all the way in the Cadillac Racing TG5+W Stake (400 m) and defeated Aston Jimena by 5¼ lengths in 23.21 seconds.

Moonlight Grand is also proving to be a handy money spinner for the seven grandkids who have assumed ownership of the daughter of Flying Ricciardo and Mossy Girl – now a winner of more than $13,000 in prize money.

And for Linda Gore, wins aside, it had been another enjoyable day at Tara Raceway.

“This is a really friendly country club and that’s what makes it such a lovely place to race,” she said.

Kicking off last Thursday’s meeting was the Williams Crane Hire Maiden Stake (305 m) which was won by first starter Highway Betty who defeated Moonlight Zarli by 3¼ lengths in 18.14 seconds.

Settling in second spot from box eight, the daughter of Premier Fantasy and High Jewel took the lead off the back for Toolleen trainer Nathan McKay and never looked in danger of defeat.

A giveaway greyhound, Highway Betty is owned by Dorothy Thompson-White, perhaps better known for her long-time involvement with GTE Dog Transport.

Meanwhile, Peter Keane, Warrnambool president between 1998 and 2003, landed a double with Tested in the Greg Martlew Autos TG1-4W Fast Forward heat (400 m) and Mr. Quirky in the Produce Store TG5+W Stake (400 m).

Tested, a daughter of Shima Shine and Lulumon, led all the way from box one when defeating Moonlight Comet by 1¼ lengths in 23.52 seconds while Mr. Quirky, also in box one, was a big winner over Crymelon Comet by 7¼ lengths in 23.33 seconds.

The double was Keane’s first at Tara Raceway since August last year when he had been successful with Tested and Burn The Bend.

Incidentally, Tested, who was bred by Rob Gore, is another greyhound generating a payout from prize money – in this case for Keane’s grandkids.

And at Angle Park on Thursday night, local trainers Melissa Freitag and David Peckham achieved success with Wind Whiskers and Bourne Model.

Wind Whiskers, a daughter of Beast Unleashed and Takers To Vegas, took the lead going out of the first turn in a grade 6 event over 530 metres and was never headed when winning by a length in 30.98 seconds.

Later, Bourne Model scored an outstanding all the way win by 6½ lengths in a 530 metre grade 5, the daughter of Feral Franky and Sweet On Me taking time honours for the night with a run of 30.23 seconds.