Members of the Sharam family came from far and wide – including NSW-based Wilcannia and Ivanhoe – last weekend to celebrate Raelene Sharam’s 80th birthday in Mount Gambier.
And the family had been hopeful that Raelene’s son, Stuart, who is based in Penola, would have a greyhound racing at Tara Raceway on the Sunday, thereby giving them the opportunity to spend an afternoon at the dogs.
As it turned out, he was at the track with wife Pat, son Liam and their greyhound, the Peter Carter owned Poke Salad Annie – perhaps named after the classic song that is “steeped in southern roots”.
By Bernardo out of Reinforcements, the black bitch lined up from box four in the Ontrack Insider Mixed Stake and was stepping out over the 512 metre journey for the first time since the end of April.
But the result was never really in any doubt with Poke Salad Annie leading all the way and defeating Weblec Polly by 2¾ lengths in a personal best time of 29.60 seconds. Whelped in October 2023, she has now raced on only nine occasions – all at Tara Raceway – for six wins and two minor placings.
And that was a good way to wrap up a weekend of 80th birthday celebrations.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, two second-round 305 metre heats of the Trackside Pet Meats sponsored Tri-Distance series were decided prior to the running of the eight-dog 400 metre $3000 final this Sunday.
In the first heat, Dimora Bernie, owned locally by Kevin Bouchier and trained at Allendale East by David Peckham, led all the way from box two for a three-quarter length win in 17.53 seconds over Kia Keeping. A further 1¼ lengths back in third spot was Way Cool.
By Tommy Shelby out of Dimora Flash, Dimora Bernie went into last Sunday’s short-course round with only four points after the running of the 512 metre distance the previous week. But 10 points for the win saw him safely into the final.
The Simson-based Rivia Umiko, trained by Jaz Blake, advanced to the final after being the only runner to win heats on both days and collect 20 points. The daughter of Fernando Bale and Rivia Bale led all the way when defeating Oregon Caldwell and High Cube.
So, following two weeks of Tri-Distance heats, Rivia Umiko 20 points, Kia Keeping and Way Cool 16, Dimora Bernie and High Cube 14 and Oregon Caldwell 12 were all safely through to the final.
But with two more finalists still required, there remained three runners in the mix on 10 points – Bali Unleashed, Bomb Rocky and Trading Halt. And as stipulated in the conditions of the event, a ballot was conducted by GRSA stewards on Monday morning to determine the final two runners.
Bali Unleashed and Trading Halt subsequently were drawn into the final while Bomb Rocky and Duran Rachel are now the reserves for the Blake family of North Bendigo.
For Peckham, last Sunday turned out to be one of his better days for a while at Tara Raceway when My Mate Tex kicked off the trainer’s day with a win on debut in the Cadillac Racing Maiden Stake (305 m).
Jumping from box five, the blue dog settled in second spot before taking the lead off the back before running out a 1½ length winner over kennelmate Bourne Reagan in 17.85 seconds.
Owned by his breeder, Noel Mugavin, My Mate Tex is by Fernando Bale out of Grace Ali, a winner of 21 races and close to $240,000 in prize money.
And following the Tri-Distance heat success, Peckham brought up a treble with another Bouchier-owned dog in Lenny Limes in the Williams Crane Hire Stake (400 m).
Away well from box three, the son of Aston Rupee and Elle Limes never looked like being headed when leading all the way for a 3¼ length win over Velaris in a tidy 22.91 seconds. The win took his record to seven from 15 starts.
The win also gave Peckham his best day at Tara Raceway since early June last year when he landed a treble with Aston Chief, Aston Azul and Bourne Sarah.
Last Sunday’s meeting included eight 305 metre races with the Tracie Price trained Flying Hugo taking the time honours with a run of 17.32 seconds when defeating Aston Torta by 3¼ lengths in 17.32 seconds in the Metal Worx Open Stake.
Then, in the Klaassens Contractors Stake (400 m), the Price-trained pair of Canya Feel It and Compton Banker fought out the finish with the former scoring by a half head in 23.04 seconds.
