Captain Rosie’s impressive win in last Sunday’s inaugural Connie Miller Memorial, run at Tara Raceway over 512 metres for grade five greyhounds, was the highlight of a big day for Allendale East owner-trainer David Peckham.
Away quickly from box eight, the black bitch never looked in any danger of defeat when leading all the way for a 2½ length win over Mister Cadillac in 29.76 seconds.
By US sire Superior Panama, Captain Rosie is out of Sweet On Me, a winner of 21 races, 12 of those including a win over Bay Me in the Mount Gambier 2020 Summer Classic while being trained by Peckham.
In 1983-1984 Connie Miller had assumed the role of secretary of the South East Greyhound Racing Club as it was then known. With the exception of 1996-1997 she continued in her secretarial role until 2002-2003.
In the 1990s she received Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club life membership and was also recognised by the SA greyhound racing industry with an Outstanding Service to the Industry award.
And given the length of time Peckham and Miller had been together, it’s probably fair to say that the Memorial win was a fitting result.
Actually, last Sunday had been something of a day of highlights for Peckham – four winners his best effort at the local track since November 2 last year when Lynette Ann, Bella Prue, Aston Piston, Sweet Lynette, Captain Red Tin and Bourne Nancy were successful.
His four winners also included a litter treble – Captain Rosie’s brother Bourne Panama winning the Metal Worx Maiden Stake (305 m) and sister Mocambora Mia back among the winners for the first time since early November in the Todd’s Photographic Stake (400 m).
Bourne Panama opened up a handy early break but turning for home lost the lead to the heavily backed first starter Menari One. On the line, though, in what was a real head-bobber, it was Bourne Panama who opened his winning account at start number nine in a time of 17.99 seconds.
Mocambora Mia was purchased as a pup by Scott Blacksell from Peckham and reared by the owner and his partner Jude Tait at their Cape Bridgewater property.
“We’d won a couple of races with her,” Blacksell said. “But I became sidelined somewhat following a hip replacement and it just became too much for Jude to manage so we sent Mia back to Dave while I recuperated.
“Then she came in season so by the time she found herself back at the race track last week she’d been off the scene for a while.”
Obviously the brindle bitch had appreciated the break because she came out running from box five and never looked like being headed when defeating Aston Verona by 2¼ lengths in a personal best time of 23.08 seconds.
It’s probably fair to say that Mocambora Mia’s odds of $81, which made her one of the longest-priced winners ever at Tara Raceway, certainly didn’t have punters rushing in to back her.
But a local charity will benefit after another $50 jumped into the Tara Tipsters charity jar, courtesy of Mocambora Mia and Scott Blacksell.
Peckham’s day kicked off in the first race, the Exchange Printers Maiden Stake (305 m), with first starter Bourne Allen who drew box one and led all the when defeating kennelmate Aston Jack by 3¾ lengths in 17.76 seconds.
Bourne Allen is by Feral Franky out of six-race winner Raine Allen and it was the breeding that first attracted Peckham when the litter was advertised for sale at an early age.
“There had been good reports on Feral Franky and with Raine Allen being one of the legendary Wheeler breed I decided to purchase a couple of the pups,” he said.
But as Peckham pointed out, sometimes when purchasing pups things don’t always go to plan.
“Actually, Sunday’s winner lost a back toe as a pup but fortunately he overcame the setback and has gone on to race – and now win.
“But the other pup that was purchased at the same time never made it and has now found a home in the Greyhound Adoption Program.”