Cape Bridgewater owner-trainer Scott Blacksell, following an involvement in the sport of more than 20 years, landed his first double after litter sisters Mocambora Bella and Mocambora Izza were successful at Tara Raceway last Thursday.
The pair, $23 and $11 respectively, were contesting heats of the monthly Fast Forward 1-4 wins series (400 metres). This is the series whereby the eight fastest greyhounds from the five heats, irrespective of finishing position, will now be contesting Thursday’s added money final.
Mocambora Izza, the dog that won her maiden over 305 metres by 17¼ lengths back in April, was always on the pace in the third heat – the Gambier Vets Stake. And turning for home, she railed through before running out a length winner over Caribbean Queen in 23.56 seconds.
In the previous heat, the Williams Crane Hire Stake, Mocambora Bella chased Little Cadillac until the home turn where she also railed through, eventually winning by 1½ lengths in 23.65 seconds. Both Blacksell’s runners qualified for the final – Izza second fastest and Bella fifth.
Fastest qualifier was Glencoe trainer Dean Fennell’s $12 chance Johnny Deeds who raced away with the last heat to defeat Pirate Gold by 3¾ lengths in 23.53 seconds. Fennell also has two finalists after Reoffender clocked 23.70 seconds when running a 1¾ length second behind Reality Pest.
By My Redeemer out of Raz’s Girl – a winner of 12 races over 400 metres at Tara Raceway – the Mocamboras, according to their owner-trainer, are part of a real team effort between him and his partner Jude Tait.
“Because most of our racing is done in Mount Gambier we were looking for SA-bred pups in order to take advantage of any breeding bonuses that might be forthcoming,” Blacksell said.
“We purchased these as pups from Allendale East breeder Dave Peckham and reared them at Cape Bridgewater prior to having them broken-in by Peter Byrne at Koroit.
“We’ve since purchased another couple of pups from Allendale East and now also have them home to be reared. It’s a bit of work but we pitch in as a team and days such as last Thursday certainly help to make it all worthwhile.”
Meanwhile, next month’s Fast Forward series will be run as a six-dog heats and final 1-4 wins over 512 metres. The six fastest greyhounds from the heats, irrespective of finishing position will contest the added money final.