Oregon Caldwell, out of the winner’s list for 12 months, was certainly the story of the day for Moorak trainer Jason Newman at last Thursday’s Tara Raceway time-graded meeting.


Having his fourth Mount Gambier start – in the Gordon Refrigeration TG1-4W Stake (512 metres) – the white and brindle dog had won four races from 42 starts and looked pretty well placed at this meeting given he had won more than $31,000 in prize money.


And after taking up the running moving into the back straight, Oregon Caldwell never looked in any danger of defeat when scoring a 5 length win over Vista Vanadium in 30.13 seconds.


But according to Newman, the story leading up to the dog’s first win in 12 months had been quite remarkable.


“From July through to October last year he was in Adelaide and did not race at all. Then he spent a month back in Victoria where he raced on only the one occasion,” Newman said.


“After that Oregon Caldwell had been de-sexed in readiness for Greyhounds As Pets (GAP). And it did not take long for him to be rehomed. 


“But just as quickly he was returned and owner, Adelaide electrician Declan Williams, contacted me to see if I would be interested in having a go with him.


“Of course then meant he had to be unretired in order to race again. But a 23.40 seconds 400 metre satisfactory trial at Tara Raceway paved the way for him to return to racing at the end of December.”


By US sire Need My Moneynow, Oregon Caldwell is out of La La Oregon, a winner of three races over 525 metres at The Meadows.


And Newman brought up a double with another interesting greyhound in the form of Turning Oak, winner of the final race, the Todd’s Photographics 5+W Stake (400 m).


Raced by the Lain Beckett-managed Yeah Nah Syndicate, the daughter of My Redeemer and Skywise led all the way when defeating Forgotten Fury by four lengths in 23.36 seconds. This brought up her seventh win.


But according to Newman it certainly had not been all plain sailing with the July 2022 black bitch.


“Her biggest problem was that she had been a real tail-wagger which besides impacting on her race starts had also made a real mess of the tail,” he said.


“Eventually we had part of the tail surgically removed. And among other things this resulted in her box manners improving considerably to the extent that she has actually won a further six races since the part-tail removal.”


Newman said he also attributed an improvement in Turning Oak’s box manners to a change in race day handlers with Millicent-based Dave Green now having taken over.


Newman’s partner, Melissa Freitag, was also among the winners last Thursday with the enigmatic Mysterious Minds who had been chasing his second win after a maiden success at the track back in October.


By Mepunga Cruzer out of Big Brebler, the black dog led all the way from box two in the Da’Leni Meats TG1-4W Stake (400 m) when running out a three length winner over Detorri Fury in 23.36 seconds.


Mysterious Minds is owned at Dennington by Dustin Drew who back in August last year had contacted Newman in regard to giving the dog a go at Mount Gambier.


“Dustin reckoned Mount Gambier was the only track Mysterious Minds went at and asked me if we would be prepared to give him a go here,” Newman said.


“Well, he’s now won a couple of races here so we’ll keep persevering for a bit longer and see how things work out with him.”


Meanwhile, Langhorne Creek trainer Tony Hinrichsen was back at Tara Raceway last week with Jukebox Duke who celebrated his 19th win at start number 100.


Contesting the Commercial Hotel TG5+W Stake (512 m), he chased Bourne Franky into the home straight where he took a rails run and grabbed victory in the shadows of the post in 30.18 seconds.


Jukebox Duke won his maiden at Tara Raceway at his fifth race start back in July 2023 at 17 months of age. His record at the local track now stands at five wins and a second from seven starts.


The black dog, a son of Zipping Garth and Mercedes Monelli – a winner of seven races at Cannington, Angle Park and Murray Bridge – is owned by Mypolonga farmer Brad Frahn.


He purchased Jukebox Duke at four months of age from Lewiston breeder Rob Harnas and subsequently reared and then later broke him in.