Former Mount Gambier greyhound Bourne Maximum broke a long run of outs when leading all the way in last Thursday’s Bartholomew Pick 6 Stake (1-4 wins) over 400 metres at Tara Raceway to defeat Bungaloo Sarah by 11⁄2 lengths in a time of 23.72 seconds.

The win was the daughter of Barcia Bale and Maximum Bella’s first for Killarney husband and wife training team, Kevin and Raylene Gavin, who picked her up as a giveaway back in July last year.

It was also Bourne Maximum’s first success in more than 14 months after her first two wins had come in the space of a week at Tara Raceway back in February last year.

Last Thursday’s win was Raylene’s first at Tara Raceway this year after Kevin had been successful early in January with Calthorpe. “She’d run half a dozen or so minor placings for us before today so it was really nice to see her finally win a race because she really does try hard,” Gavin said.

The couple makes regular trips to Mount Gambier’s Thursday meetings, accompanied whenever possible by their granddaughter Carisma Corpica of Koroit. Carisma, one of the regular catchers at Warrnambool meetings, handled the winner for her grandparents.

And there was a genuine sense of excitement as she returned with Bourne Maximum, her smile saying it all. Another day of doubles at the dogs Last Thursday started off well for trainers Lewis Green, John Little, Dean Fennell and Peter Keane, the quartet winning the first four races at Tara Raceway before all ending the day with doubles.

The Parwan-based Green was successful with Blazin’ Diamonds and Black Strat, the former opening her winning account at start number 10 when leading all the way in the Winningformula.net.au Maiden Stake (400 metres).

And Black Strat, the rank outsider at $16 in the Metal Worx 1-4 Wins Stake (400 m), led all the way to defeat Tinker To Burn by 11⁄2 lengths in 23.61 seconds. In Green’s kennels since August last year, Black Strat is now on his sixth trainer, his last win having been at Angle Park over 388 metres back in January.

Not there’s much wrong with his breeding, the black dog being by Fernando Bale out of Erelda Bale, herself a winner of more than $30,000 in stakemoney and a litter sister to the $1.3m winner Fanta Bale. Bungaloo Tex gave Little, of Kongorong, his first winner with his Paddy Whacker x Bungaloo Lucy litter when leading all the way in the Williams Crane Hire Maiden Stake (400 m).

Having only his third start and despite using plenty of the track, the black dog defeated Big Cadillac by 11⁄2 lengths in 23.85 seconds. Bungaloo Lucy, a winner of a maiden over 400 metres at Tara Raceway, boasts strong bloodlines, being by Cosmic Rumble out of Lady Grey who was successful over distances ranging from 460 metres at Warragul to 725 metres at The Meadows.

Little’s double came up in the Progreyhoundtips.com 1-4 Wins Stake (400 m) when Bungaloo Danni gained a run as a reserve and finished strongly to hold out Pay The Rent by a half length in 23.73 seconds.

This was another win for his Pure Titanium x Bungaloo Sunset litter which also provided three second placings. Add to this an SA-Bred Maiden Bonus with Bungaloo Tex and it was another good day for Little. Fennell, who trains out at Glencoe, scored an easy win with General Max who led all the way for a 33⁄4 lengths win over Queue The Music in the Commercial Hotel 5+Wins Stake (400 m) in a best of day 23.20 seconds.

Later in the day Saint Sunshine brought up Fennell’s 14th win this year with a second successive 600 metres win when finishing six lengths clear of Joey Mac in the Bourne Kennels Stake in 35.45 seconds.

Koroit-based Keane landed his third local double this year with members of the Fernando Bale x Sisco Sizzle litter when Nando Sizzle and Our Ando were successful in the Gordon Refrigeration 5+ Wins Stake (400 m) and Exchange Printers 1-4 Wins Stake (400 m).

Nando Sizzle, after an early tussle with Tyrone Bale, held out Jack’s Fantasy for a neck win in 23.34 seconds. And Our Ando, after chasing early leader Giveaway Vegas, finished strongly for a 11⁄4 lengths win over Dressed Up in 23.22 seconds.

The litter double now has Sisco Sizzle on 12 wins and three clear of Irisize, Spicy Peppa and Thanks Tubby on the Mount Gambier Leading Dams list.