Bourne Lickety ran right up to his name at Tara Raceway last Sunday when contesting the Pindari Express at Stud Stake, a grade five race over 512 metres which also carried a free service, valued at $2200, to the winner.
Owned and trained at Allendale East by David Peckham , Bourne Lickety, a son of Feral Franky and Sweet On Me, took full advantage of box one and virtually led all the way for a 4½ length win over Tim Butcher’s Mundulla in a time of 29.80 seconds.
Actually, it had been a good couple of days for Peckham who had been successful with Bourne Lickety’s litter sister Bourne Model up the straight at Murray Bridge on the Friday prior.
And Bourne Model, a winner of more than $163,000 in prize money, is one of five finalists in the 2025 SA Greyhound of the Year. The result will be announced at Angle Park on Saturday, February 28.
The Pindari Express at Stud Stake had been organised by Kerry Hawker of Cadillac Racing, together with NSW-based Tracey Scruse who had achieved much success on NSW tracks with Pindari Express.
The son of Fabregas and Brook’s Doll won back to back Bulli Gold Cups in 2019 and 2020, broke track records at Bulli and Maitland and was a finalist in the 2019 Million Dollar Chase.
Meanwhile, Wario, trained locally by Kev Patzel, had been chasing his first win since back in November at Tara Raceway when lining up in the Quickmix Concrete Group Masters Stake (305 m).
As it turns out, the black dog – a winner of 30 races – is a son of Pindari Express. And what better time to find winning form again than on the day of the Pindari Express at Stud Stake?
And that’s how it played out. Win number 31 came up after Wario led all the way from box seven to score a 2¼ length win over last Thursday winner Mister Cadillac in a personal best time of 17.41 seconds.
Meanwhile, Mepunga Infrared, with Portland trainer Nicole Stanley for the past six months, finally broke through for his first win since April last year in the Gordon Refrigeration Stake (512 m).
Lining up for only his third start with Stanley – one of those a no-race – the son of Bella Infrared and Mepunga Molly settled in third spot down the back before railing through on the home turn and running out a 4½ length winner over Red Emperor in 29.85 seconds.
Bred by well-known Victorian greyhound man George Farrugia, Mepunga Infrared is one of five litters whelped by Mepunga Molly, the others being by Barcia Bale, Mepunga Blazer, Shima Shine and Hooked On Scotch.
And for Stanley and partner Nifty Lenehan it had been a win a long time coming following a frustrating period with the black November 2022 dog. In the end, though, it had certainly been worth the wait.
Also worth the wait was the win of Lady Tsunade for Bendigo owner-trainer Aaron Blake at start number 13 in the Cadillac Racing Maiden Stake (305 m).
Having her first start at Tara Raceway, the blue fawn bitch led all the way from box one and held out Costly Habits to win by 1¾ lengths in 17.75 seconds.
By Hooked On Scotch, Lady Tsunade is out of Adelong who boasted an impressive record at Tara Raceway during 2022 when winning 10 races over 400 m, 512 m, 600 m and 732 m.
Adelong, a daughter of Fernando Bale and Bonnie Beauty, whelped a second litter – one dog and four bitches – by Christo Bale in March 2025.
Following Lektra Lee’s win at Tara Raceway last week for John Cameron, it was another of the Lenehan breed in Lektra Hopper who was successful last Sunday for Southern Cross owner-trainer Ray Mahony.
Lining up from box four in the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 Stake (305 m), the son of Sennachie and Lektra Rainbow was chasing his first win since last September.
But the black dog quickly found the front before running out a six length winner over Paw Whisper in a quick 17.53 seconds.
And at Tara Raceway this Sunday, the Leading Trainer of 2025 Award will be presented to Tracie Price and the 2025 Greyhound of the Year to the connections of Wind Whiskers.
Price trained 137 winners at Tara Raceway for the year while Wind Whiskers, the current 305 metre track record holder, won 23 races at Tara Raceway.