Strictly speaking, the Tara Tipsters latest charity promotion kicked off last Sunday at Tara Raceway.
This time they were throwing their support behind local couple Sarah Hutchesson-Webb and Jake Powell’s 22-month-old daughter Mia Powell who has been diagnosed with Tay-Sachs disease, a rare genetic disorder that affects the nervous system.
And Mia’s parents are now focused on treating her symptoms to prolong her life and making her as comfortable as possible.
Cape Bridgewater owner-trainer Scott Blacksell, a regular with partner Jude Tait at local greyhound meetings, has been a generous supporter of what he sees as worthwhile causes at the Mount Gambier track.
Several years ago, after the kennel house had been renovated, he donated a new clothes dryer for the race rugs.
Later, when Kevin “KD” Douglas introduced “Catch for Cash” – the forerunner of the Tara Tipsters – Blacksell stepped in and donated $50 to the charity jar every time one of his greyhounds in Rooster or Worms Are Biting were successful at Tara Raceway.
One of his latest runners is a 24 kilogram brindle bitch who just happens to be named Mocambora Mia. Once again, Blacksell has stepped up, this time pledging $100 to the Tara Tipsters charity jar every time his greyhound wins at Tara Raceway during the Mia Powell series.
Lining up last Thursday from box one in the Metal Worx Maiden Stake (400 metres), Mocambora Mia was still chasing her first win at start number four at the local track.
“Fair enough, the Tara Tipsters competition wasn’t officially kicking off until Sunday’s meeting but this looked to be an ideal opportunity of getting the fundraiser off to a flying start,” said Blacksell.
And Mocambora Mia couldn’t have picked a better day to open her winning account after leading all the way and holding off determined efforts from Shot Of Jacks and Mt. View Choice to win by three-quarters of a length in 23.68 seconds.
So the charity jar received an early boost of $100 and the maiden winner was greeted with a reception usually reserved for Mount Gambier Cup winners.
Bred by the Adelaide-based Nineofus Syndicate, Mocambora Mia is by the US sire Superior Panama out of Sweet On Me, a winner of 21 races, including the 2020 Summer Classic (512 m) at Tara Raceway when trained by David Peckham of Allendale East.
Blacksell purchased a dog and bitch as pups from the December 2021 litter and reared them at Cape Bridgewater prior to the pair being broken-in at Koroit by Peter Byrne.
