It had been a while since Mortlake owner-trainer Shaun Baulch had last trained a winner at Tara Raceway. In fact, it had been with a greyhound called Mrs. Watson back in October 2022.

Recently back on a regular basis for the Thursday time-graded meetings at the Mount Gambier track, Baulch broke the drought last week with a well-bred maiden give away by the name of Hit Reset.

The July 2024 black dog lined up from box seven in the Federal Hotel Stake (305 metres) after having been unplaced on three occasions last month at Sale and Warragul.

But it was Cap Abbott’s runner-up Cadillac Snoop who led the way from box two before figuring in a terrific three-way finish with eventual winner Hit Reset and third-placed 31-start maiden Major Envy, owned by Mark Roberts and trained by his wife Cath.

On the line, Hit Reset had a head to spare over the minor placegetters who were separated by only a nose in a time of 18.05 seconds.

By Allen Deed, the winner – who had been in Baulch’s kennels for only a week – is out of Amnesty, a winner in 2021-2022 of eight races from 40 starts at Sandown Park, The Meadows and Ballarat.

The day wasn’t a total write-off for the second and third placed trainers, though, with Abbott successful with Crowie Unleashed and Cath Roberts with Rose Champagne.

Crowie Unleashed, a son of Beast Unleashed and Minnie Banjo, led all the way from box one in the Gordon Refrigeration TG5+W Stake (305 m) when defeating Jazzy Boo by 1¾ lengths in 17.86 seconds.

And in the Pindari Express @ Stud TG1-4W Stake (400 m), Rose Champagne – having her first start over the 400 metre journey – quickly found the front from box two before running out a 4¾ length winner over Compton Zirconia in 23.27 seconds.

Also bred by Roberts, two-race Mount Gambier winner Rose Champagne is by US sire Kinda Cruel Red out of Nyssa’s Girl, who raced on 128 occasions for 11 wins and 34 minor placings at Geelong, Ballarat, Warrnambool and Mount Gambier.

Other winners from her February 2024-whelped litter are Bragging Rights, Collective Kaos and Major Jealous.

Meanwhile, Rough Girl Slim, owned and trained at OB Flat by Noel Perry, is making up for lost time after being sidelined at the beginning of November until the end of March this year.

Stringing together two wins soon after her return in April, Rough Girl Slim was back among the winners last Thursday. Running down Fantastic Ada in the home straight, she scored a 1¼ length win in 23.24 seconds in the Collins Court Butcher TG5+W Stake (400 m).

The daughter of My Redeemer and Vossy – a litter sister to another successful local producer in Perseverance – has now won 10 races.

 

STUD SERVICES TO COMPLEMENT RACING IN AUGUST

The Bernie Burrow @ Stud Best 8 race over 512 metres, which will carry a service to Bernie Burrow, will highlight racing at Tara Raceway on Sunday, August 9.

Winner of the 2024 Group 1 Hobart Thousand and Tassie Gold Cup, the black dog is a son of Bernardo and My Gal Penny.

“A winner of 21 races and $184,000 in prize money, Bernie Burrow went everywhere and won everywhere during his 48-start career,” said syndicate manager Nick Cutri. “We are extremely happy with the response to him at stud. And everyone is raving about the quality of his pups.”

And on Sunday, August 16 and Sunday, August 23, the Ferness @ Stud Grades 5/6 heats and final series will be run over 512 metres. This will carry a service to Ferness.

Ferness, a son of Fernando Bale and Princess Kiwi, won 15 races and $177,000 in prize money. One of his racing highlights was a win in the 2025 Richmond Derby.

Meanwhile, Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA) informs participants of a change in the Preferential Box Draw (PBD) racing that is now to be trialled at nominated Tara Raceway meetings as from August. This will be based on early racing patterns identified by IsoLynx data.

PBD racing seeks to place competing greyhounds into boxes that best suit their racing characteristics (particularly in the early stages of racing) in an effort to improve racing safety outcomes and reduce the risk of injury.

As far as the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club is concerned, PBD racing will commence at time-graded meetings conducted at Tara Raceway on Thursday, August 13 and Thursday, August 27. All greyhounds nominated (including maidens) will be placed in a PBD event – no reserves.