It’s fair to say Bourne Model and Apilla have both come a long way since that Sunday afternoon back in August last year when the pair fought out the age-restricted Cadillac Racing Winter Classic (512 metres) at Tara Raceway.
Bourne Model, a daughter of Feral Franky and Sweet On Me, was having only her fifth race start for Allendale East trainer David Peckham who also managed the Bourne Team Syndicate, owners at the time of the pint-sized black bitch.
And Apilla, owned by Cameron and Yvonne Butcher of Meningie and trained at Murray Bridge by Damien Smith, was racing on the Mount Gambier track for the first time – given the classic had been a one-off race with no heats conducted.
The Winter Classic, which disappointingly ended up with only four runners, still carried prize money of $6,675. And it was Bourne Model who led all the way for a three length win over Apilla in 29.91 seconds.
Fast forward to last month and Smith had Apilla at Wentworth Park in NSW for the heats of the Association Cup (720 m). A heat win then resulted in the daughter of My Redeemer and Rosie Red making the long trip back to NSW the following week for the Group 1 final.
It turned out to be a worthwhile trip after she defeated Max Capacity by 6¼ lengths in the $75,000 to the winner Association Cup final and joined legendary SA stayers Ascapella Miss and Bayroad Queen on the honour board.
Earlier this month Peckham was at Sandown Park in Victoria with Bourne Model for a heat – which she duly won – of the Sapphire Crown (515 m), a Group 1 event for the best 32 bitches nominated.
Last week he was back at Sandown Park, well satisfied that his “pocket rocket” had drawn the coveted box one in the $75,000 to the winner final.
And the Peckham owned and trained Bourne Model took full advantage of the draw, leading all the way for a 1¼ length win over Lakeview Emily in 29.29 seconds.
The 2025 Winter Classic will be replaced by the Spring Classic and run later in the year. But perhaps in some small way the age-restricted event with a 10-year history can still lay claim to having nurtured a couple of future Group 1 winners.
All told, Apilla has now accumulated $144,735 in prize money and Bourne Model $111,510.
Meanwhile, Smith was back at Tara Raceway last Sunday for the first time since Masani Girl had run third in a heat of the Mount Gambier Cup back on March 30.
Apilla’s litter sister Wilpena, who is raced in the same interests, impressed when leading all the way from box four in the Commercial Hotel Stake (400 m) and defeating Federal Tiger by six lengths in 22.92 seconds.
Then it was litter brother Jabuk, also raced in the same interests, who led all the way in the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 Stake (400 m) and defeated Harry Chana by 4½ lengths in 22.79 seconds.
Smith brought up a treble for the day in the final race, the Produce Store Stake (400 m), after Masani Girl led all the way from box two and defeated My Lady Panama by 4¼ lengths in a quick 22.66 seconds.
Earlier in the day, Moscow Chick, a well-bred daughter of Fernando Bale and Mallee Dreamer, ran a one length third behind Littlefoot and Vixen Force in 30.11 seconds in the second heat of the Riding for the Disabled (RDA) Stake (512 m
Owned by Smith and his Reynella-based father Ross, who also trains the brindle bitch, Moscow Chick is through to the grade six final. The race is sponsored by the club-based Tara Tipsters charity which will make a donation to the RDA at the conclusion of the race.
