Hamilton-based Sins To Burn looks a good chance of bringing up his second Fast Forward win at Tara Raceway this month when he lines up in Thursday’s 512 metre final for owner-trainer Lorraine Goodwin.

Having only his second run over the distance, the son of Aston Kimetto and Slew Left led all the way in last Thursday’s Williams Crane Hire Fast Forward second heat. On the line he had 2½ lengths to spare over Spot On Yvonne in 30.18 seconds – the faster of the two heats.

Earlier in the month, Sins To Burn had scored a narrow win over Minh Ellie in the 400 metre Fast Forward final. Both finals, which comprise the fastest eight greyhounds, irrespective of finishing positions in the heats, are run on a monthly basis and carry Category 2 prizemoney.

As such, Goodwin and her son Kyle, will have three finalists on Thursday after Comet To Burn and Mjolnir To Burn were also among the top eight fastest.

In the first heat, the Metal Worx Fast Forward, kennelmates Cawbourne Baxter and Cawbourne Gia fought out the finish for Parwan trainer Julie Green.

By Swift Fancy out of Cawbourne Kristy, Cawbourne Baxter led all the way before just holding out Cawbourne Gia to win by a head in 30.39 seconds – both greyhounds making it through to the final.

And Green will be hoping for a change of luck with Cawbourne Baxter who went down narrowly when finishing second to Saint Milly in last month’s Fast Forward final over 512 metres.

The durable 5½-year-old Maximum Refusal, who first raced over 350 metres at Goulburn back on December 5, 2019, went around for the 154th time when contesting the Exchange Printers Stake (600 m).

With his fifth trainer – David Peckham of Allendale East – since April 2021, Maximum Refusal brought up his 30th win when leading all the way and defeating Circus Craze by three-quarters of a length in 35.28 seconds.

Peckham has now won 20 races with the son of Fernando Bale and Kilkee Flex who has been successful over distances ranging from 400 metres at Wagga to 732 metres at Mount Gambier.

Berringa trainer Michael Niele landed his third double at Tara Raceway this year when Bridgewater Lyn and Acoustic Flash were successful in TG1-4W 400 metre events.

By Bernardo out of Eureka Osti, Bridgewater Lyn settled in second spot behind Cadillac Racer before taking the lead turning for home and running out a three length winner over Ragnar Boy in 23.68 seconds.

And Acoustic Flash, quick to take advantage of some early interference, scored an 8½ length win over Fried Giblet in 23.34 seconds.

The daughter of Aston Dee Bee and Acoustic Lee, formerly trained by the owner Noel Walsh at Tullamarine, had previously won for Niele at Ballarat prior to last Thursday’s success.

“That’s what she needed today, a real confidence-boosting run,” he said.

Niele’s first double this year came in May with Problem Angel and Stormin’ Frank. And he followed up in July with Arrow Bar Peanut and Gizmo Osti.

Meanwhile, it seems Koroit owner-trainer Lindsay Brookes spends almost as much time at Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway as he does at his home track at Warrnambool.

He was at Tara Raceway last Thursday with his good mate Peter Keane, also of Koroit. And while there were no winners forthcoming, Keane was pretty quick to let it be known that Brookes had just that week been awarded life membership of the Warrnambool Greyhound Racing Club.

Involved with the Warrnambool club for 30-odd years, Brookes has also spent 25 years as a Committee of Management Delegate for Wannon Park. He was also president of the Warrnambool club for two years.

Brookes, 78, was a motor mechanic for 30 years prior to spending 20 years as a mechanic come school bus and coach driver.

Recalling his early days in greyhound racing, he said his first winner as an owner had actually been at Mount Gambier’s original greyhound track at Glenburnie in May 1994 when Turkey Lass, trained by the late Jim Williams, defeated Richard Clayfield’s Beau Dan over 479 metres.

The life membership announcement had been made at the club’s Annual General Meeting by WGRC president Rob Gore.

“That was certainly something I wasn’t expecting,” Brookes said.