First it was Heathmere-based owner-trainer Garry Marshman’s Ralph The Rat who was successful at Tara Raceway at the end of last month. Then, at the time-graded meeting last week, Jimmy The Rat opened his winning account for Warrnambool owner-trainer team Linda and Rob Gore.

Having his first race start, Jimmy The Rat, a September 2024 son of Fernando Bale and My Girl Kizzy, never looked like being beaten. He led all the way from box one in the Cadillac Racing Maiden Stake (305 metres) for a 6½ length win over Pick A Cadillac in 17.86 seconds.

My Girl Kizzy, a daughter of Mepunga Blazer and Mepunga Rosie, won 11 races and $70,000 in prize money prior to whelping two litters by Fernando Bale and one by Cosmic Rumble.

Her first litter by Fernando Bale includes Pass Mark, a winner of 23 races and $262,000 in prize money, as well as Container (10, $60,000) and Veronica Lodge (10, $41,000). And a litter by Cosmic Rumble includes Moonlight Miller (7, $36,000).

Meanwhile, conspicuous in her wrist bandages was Lee and Steve Bartholomew’s Worrolong-based Just Rylee who had been off the scene since November and was last a winner at Tara Raceway back in September.

By Blue Moon Rising out of the 2019 Mount Gambier Cup winner Galactic Athena, Just Rylee virtually led all the way from box two in the Gordon Refrigeration TG1-4W Stake (305 m), eventually running out a five length winner over Pressure Point in 17.93 seconds.

Just Rylee is a litter sister to Galactic Nemesis, owned locally by Robert Chuck and trained at Finniss by Lauren Harris who won last year’s Mount Gambier Autumn Classic (512 m) with her. All told, she has now won 21 races and more than $55,000 in prize money.

Bringing up win number 34 – all at Tara Raceway – was Cadillac Ragtop at what was start number 123 with 119 of those at the local track.

Lining up from box five in the Collins Court Butcher TG5+W Stake (305 m), Cadillac Ragtop led all the way for Edenhope owner-trainer Kerry Hawker when defeating Energy To Burn by a length in 17.63 seconds.

Whelped in February 2022, the black bitch is by Premier Fantasy out of Pamela Rocks – a daughter of Barcia Bale and Punk Rock Lass. She was bred by Captain Abbott.

And at the previous Sunday meeting the Penshurst boys, Jack and Brendan Casey, along with Colin Kampman from down the road at Purdeet, were back on track with Penny Pinto.

Still flushed with success after a couple of 390 metre wins at Warrnambool in April, the boys continued their winning run when the daughter of Fernando Bale and Weeona Dotty led all the way from box one in the Ontrack Insider Stake (305 m).

Running 17.68 seconds, it was the brindle bitch’s first 305 metre win at Tara Raceway and her 14th overall win in a career that spans 76 starts. And for Jack Casey, this had been a win for the ages – well, according to him, anyway.

Dennington trainer Dustin Drew landed his first Tara Raceway winner since last September when the lightly raced Duran Nirvana led all the way from box eight in the Icon Signs Stake (512 m) for a 2¾ length win over Lektra Skip in a quick 29.42 seconds.

Raced by Ballarat-based Sarah Barbetti, the black dog carries the imported bloodlines of Ballymac Kingdom and Fabriola Duran with the win his fourth from 13 starts.

And when it comes to the Ashton Review there’s apparently ‘no wriggle room’ according to Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA) Chairman, David Lewis, Chief Executive Officer Brenton Scott and Board Member Gavin Harris.

The trio was in Mount Gambier last week to update local participants in regard to the current state of the SA greyhound racing industry.

Participants in attendance were updated on a number of topics including the political and activist landscape, key welfare measures, wagering and financial situations and, of course, the Ashton Review into SA Greyhound Racing which is now nearing completion.

One Ashton Review requirement that certainly does carry “no wriggle room” is that of kennel size. By the completion of the review all kennels will require to be of a minimum specific size, meaning trainers not meeting the requirement will be unable to race greyhounds.

However, Mr Lewis said he was confident GRSA and its participants would meet all the Ashton Review requirements prior to the completion time.