The Mount Gambier Summer Classic, first run over 512 metres at Tara Raceway for greyhounds whelped on or after January 1 two years prior, initially had been conducted in January or February.

But last year the event took on a new name – the Autumn Classic. By then a $10,000 series, the age restriction remained the same although it was run in May when won by Robert Chuck’s locally-owned Galactic Nemesis and trained at Finniss by Lauren Harris.

And with this year’s classic attracting sufficient nominations to run three heats at last Sunday’s meeting it’s fair to say the Trackside Pet Meats sponsored Autumn Classic once again had held up pretty well.

Leading trainer Tracie Price went into the first heat looking to hold a strong hand with Compton Rocks, a June 2024 daughter of Tommy Shelby and Rock It Barcia and a winner last month at Angle Park over 530 metres in 30.58 seconds.

Overcoming interference down the back straight before finding the lead turning for home, the black bitch went to the line strongly for a two length win over Reiko Comet, trained at Dennington by Dustin Drew, in 30.08 seconds.

Price, who also bred last Sunday’s first heat winner, will now be looking to add to his two Summer Classic wins of 2023 and 2024 – when Honey Rocks (Fernando Bale x Rhonda Rocks) and Wild Banker had been successful – with Compton Rocks who also traces back to Rhonda Rocks.

Meningie trainer Tim Richards, after Summer Classic wins in 2021 and 2022 with Justice For All and He’s All Purpose, is chasing further success with Big Diesel, a son of Bernardo x Rhonda Lily who was also bred by Price.

Purchased at six months of age by Richards, he now races the black dog in partnership with his cousin, Don Richards. The May 2044 whelping has now won nine races from 26 starts – his past two wins prior to last Sunday over 595 metres at Angle Park.

Jumping from box one in the second heat last Sunday, Big Diesel was fairly away before finding the front down the back straight and running away to a 3¾ length win over the Price owned and trained Compton Shelly in a quick 29.44 seconds.

Langhorne Creek trainer Tony Hinrichsen was successful in the 2016 Summer Classic with Menzel Boys, a son of Dyna Tron and Fighting Fury. Now, 10 years later, he looks to be right in the mix in this Sunday’s final with Lil Rex.

Jumping from box one in the third and final heat, the black dog was never headed and eventually ran out a 4¾ length winner over Rock It Kathy in the fastest time of the three heats – 29.35 seconds.

Bred by Cam Forshaw, trainer of this year’s Mount Gambier Cup winner Gunning Bandit, Lil Rex is by Bernardo out of Lily Pad who won 17 races and more than $55,000 in prize money.

And he was purchased as a pup by a long-time associate of Hinrichsen in Mypolonga-based Brad Frahn who reared and broke-in Lil Rex prior to sending him to Langhorne Creek for training.

So, through to the Autumn Classic final (not in box order) are: Compton Rocks, Reiko Comet, Big Diesel, Compton Shelly, Naringal Lad, Lil Rex, Rock It Kathy and She’s A Jumbo. And well done to Allansford-based Jacob Rea, a Tara Raceway first-timer, on reaching the final with Naringal Lad.

Tim Richards’ good run this year at Tara Raceway certainly continued last Sunday after Big Diesel won his way through to the Autumn Classic final while litter sister She’s A Jumbo also qualified for the final with a 29.85 seconds third placing behind Lil Rex.

Earlier in the day, the Richards trained Jazzy Boo brought up her third successive 305 metre win after leading all the way from box five in the Williams Crane Hire Stake and defeating Speechless by 2¼ lengths in 17.61 seconds.

And Richards ended the day with a treble after Ritza Wotton found the front down the back in the Klaassens Contractors Mixed Stake before running out a 4¾ length winner in 23.02 seconds.

Also enjoying a good day was Dustin Drew. Into the Autumn Classic final on the back of a second placing behind Compton Rocks with Reiko Comet, Duran Nirvana then scored a good win over Lektra Skip in the Icon Signs Stake (512 m) in the good time of 29.42 seconds.