It was at the end of March 2019 that the Andrew Paraskevas trained Pure White Evil had run a 4¼ length third behind Galactic Athena and Slingshot Hammer in the Mount Gambier Cup final (512 metres).

Actually it was a pretty good month for the Victorian-based trainer who a couple of weeks prior had won the inaugural Murray Bridge Cup with Pure White Evil’s litter brother, Eye Got It. And he had come reasonably close to picking up a GRSA $5000 bonus.

But the story goes back to late 2007 when Paraskevas’ father, John, had bred a litter by Brett Lee out of Brandeen Misty – in a five-start career a winner of two races at Temora prior to whelping four litters for other breeders.

One of the litter later raced as Father Of Mine, who won five races over short courses. Her fourth and final litter, to Barcia Bale, included Pure White Evil and Eye Got It.

Father Of Mine’s second litter was by Knocka Norris and included American Monster, a winner of 23 races and more than $100,000 in prize money. Also in the litter was five-race winner Pretty Bomb who subsequently whelped five litters of her own, the third being by Zambora Brockie.

Andrew Paraskevas was back at Tara Raceway last Sunday with a couple of well-credentialled sons of Zambora Brockie x Pretty Bomb – New Wave Whine, a winner of 16 races and $83,000 in prize money and Your Colour Room (20, $139,000).

New Wave Whine disappointed in the Gordon Refrigeration Stake (512 m) and looked lost. But Your Colour Room impressed when taking up the running down the back straight from Keanu Boy Turbo in the Swallow Drive Meats Stake (512 m).

And the brindle dog finished the race off strongly, defeating the early leader by 4¼ lengths in a very quick 29.46 seconds.

However, as far as next month’s Cadillac Racing Mount Gambier Cup is concerned, Paraskevas said he and the Sparkle And Fade Syndicate, managed by his father, were keeping their options open.

“I had been keen to get the pair over here for a run behind the finish-on lure,” he said. “At times they can be a bit unpredictable and as such I like to try and mix things up a bit and keep them guessing.

“Don’t get me wrong, I was really pleased with Your Colour Room’s effort today so we’ll now have to have a long, hard look at what direction we’re going to take.”

Meanwhile, enjoying the Thursday and Sunday meetings last week at Tara Raceway was the Cunningham family – Daniel, Kim and kids Brooke and Sophie – from Burnie in Tasmania, and holidaying in Mount Gambier for the first time.

It’s a busy time for the family who will be over at Hamilton for three nights for the Australian Street Stocks titles. They then return to Mount Gambier where Daniel will be competing in the SA Street Stocks titles.

An underground shift boss at the Henty Goldmine in Tasmania, Cunningham is also a keen racegoer.

“We went to the trots the other night and then I was delighted to learn that there was greyhound racing on here on Thursday. Even better still was when I was told the greyhounds were also racing on Sunday afternoon,” he said.

“I have to say, everyone seems really friendly at the dogs and they went out of their way to make us feel welcome. One trainer I was talking to was Robert Halliday who mentioned he had a runner called Yadillah Lad in race nine.

“I wasn’t travelling that well and at a price of $20 I thought his dog was probably worth a couple of dollars. And up he got. I have to say, this bloke called Halliday is a legend!”

The Cunningham family also caught up with Southern Cross trainer Garry Elliott who had Lightning Pest engaged in the Exchange Printers Stake (512 m).

Lining up from box eight on the back of four minor placings, the daughter of Lightning Frank and Roxy Ya Pest settled in second spot behind Our Damiro before storming home in the straight for a 3¼ length win.

The win was the black bitch’s fourth since finding her way into Elliott’s kennels 12 months ago after she had displayed a reluctance to chase at Warrnambool.

“A decision to run Lightning Pest behind the finish-on-lure at the Mount Gambier track seems to have switched her on to the extent that she ran a personal best time today of 29.79 seconds,” said Elliott.