With no box one runner in either the first or last race, greyhounds carrying the red rug were successful in the seven other races at Mount Gambier’s nine-race time-graded programme last week at Tara Raceway.

And among the winning trainers on the day was Allendale East-based David Peckham who won with Aston Jimena in the Icon Signs TG5+W Stake (400 metres) and with Bourne Sarah in the Cadillac Racing TG5+W Stake (400 m).

Both greyhounds led all the way from box one, Aston Jimena defeating Saint Bree by 2¾ lengths in 23.11 seconds while Bourne Sarah, a daughter of Superior Panama and Sweet On Me, was a 3¾ length winner over Chester Deeds in 23.00 seconds.

But while all this was going on, Peckham and Bourne Model were on their way to Sandown Park in Victoria for the heats of the Group 1 Sapphire Crown – a 515 metre series for the best 32 nominated bitches with prize money totalling $113,500.

A younger half-sister to Bourne Sarah, Bourne Model is by Feral Franky. Last year she defeated Apilla when winning the Winter Classic at Tara Raceway. And recently at a Thursday meeting she recorded a 530 metre best of night win at Angle Park.

Bourne Model drew box six in the first of four Sapphire heats and found herself in the right place at the right time when running out a 2¾ length winner over Dr. Zeeka, another daughter of Feral Franky, in 29.64 seconds.

There were quicker qualifiers – including Dashing Slay who ran a best of night 29.01 seconds for Adelaide owners Team Harris and Pearcedale trainer Kayla Cottrell – and took her prize money to just short of $190,000.

But for Peckham it will be a case of going into the Sapphire Crown final having now had a run on the track with Bourne Model and also drawing box one.

Meanwhile, back at Tara Raceway on Thursday afternoon, and other box one winners had been Hotfoot Swizzle (Melissa Freitag), Raven Peter (Tracie Price), Cadillac Ragtop (Kerry Hawker), Cheques To Burn (Lorraine Goodwin) and Lady Bombshell in the Fast Forward final (400 m).

Trained at Compton by Price, Lady Bombshell, a daughter of SH Avatar out of Settled, is owned by Louise Cooper who trains a small team of racehorses in partnership with husband Matt at Hamilton.

Lady Bombshell is Cooper’s first greyhound and she won at her first start at Tara Raceway for her new owner back in February. She has now won three races at the local track plus one up the 300 metre straight at Murray Bridge.

Racing for Category 2 prize money in the Produce Store Fast Forward final, Lady Bombshell never looked like losing when leading all the way and defeating Tested by three lengths in 23.16 seconds.