The Sims Family Memorial, a maiden event run over 512 metres, once again attracted a large gathering of the Sims clan to witness the running of the time-honoured event at Tara Raceway last Sunday.
The Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club’s first life member, Col Sims, ably assisted by his wife Val, enjoyed great success at coursing and later turned his hand to mechanical lure racing when it was introduced in Mount Gambier in 1979.
He won the Mount Gambier Cup run at Glenburnie in 1996 with the front-running Colin Ian. He also won the first Anniversary Cup conducted at the Lake Terrace East venue in 1997 with Becker McLaren.
And for sure, Col and Val would have been suitably impressed with the almost-completed clubroom upgrade which greeted the Sims family and friends last weekend.
But still holding pride of place at the front of the clubrooms is the row of wooden bench seats – painted in starting box colours and built and donated by the Sims’ son Ian, also a life member, who died in 2019.
The Sims Feature Maiden had been run in various formats over a number of years. But it was first conducted as a memorial event in 2013 when won by the Cap Abbott trained Arbour Darby in 30.71 seconds.
Benara Cosmic was successful the following year for local trainer Tracie Price who followed up again in 2020 with Rocketline and then in 2021 with Compton Brett.
That was the year the feature maiden became known as the Sims Family Memorial and when Compton Brett, a $34 chance, caused a real boilover by defeating kennelmate Compton Pete.
One of Col Sims’ old sparring partners had been Portland-based Robert Halliday who had often expressed a desire to win this particular race. And with Way Cool jumping from box eight as a short-priced favourite maybe 2025 could be his year.
But it was the Price part-owned and trained Mr. Tangelo – having his second start on the back of a first-up third at the end of last year – who led all the way, holding out Way Cool in the home straight for a head win in 30.65 seconds.
By Irish sire Magical Bale, Mr. Tangelo is out of Tangelo Fire, an 11-race winner – two of those wins at Mount Gambier over 512 metres when being trained by Price at the latter end of her racing career.
Price reared three of the litter which also includes another maiden winner in Indie Or Jill. Tangelo Fire has since whelped a litter of five dogs and four bitches by Tommy Shelby.
Price’s wife Karen, also part-owner of the winner, accepted the trophy on behalf of the family and thanked the Sims family for their long and valued support of the race. She also gratefully acknowledged the support of their team of helpers at the kennels and on race days.
Meanwhile, two heats of the Federal 600 (600 m) complemented the Sims Memorial. And in what will be the racing highlight, eight runners will now contest the $6000 final at Tara Raceway’s Sunday afternoon Family Fun in the Sun day.
In the first heat, box one runner Aston Hornet, a $1.30 favourite, certainly looked the one to beat on the back of a couple sub-35 seconds 600 metre wins.
And while he found the front early, it was track specialist Top Cadillac who powered to the front going into the back straight and from then on he was never headed when defeating the early leader by a length in 35.11 seconds.
Owned and trained at Edenhope by Cap Abbott, the son of Feral Franky and Establish boasts an outstanding record at Tara Raceway over the 600 metre journey – 12 starts for nine wins and three minor placings.
Tappet, who went into the second heat as a $1.22 favourite, settled in second spot early before finding the front down the back. But it was on-pacer Sweet Secret who finished strongly in the home straight for a two length win in 35.02 seconds.
A winner of 10 races, all at Tara Raceway, Sweet Secret is a daughter of SH Avatar and Zipping Tatum and is owned and trained at Southern Cross by Ray Mahony, involved in the sport for more than 50 years.
Through to the final are Top Cadillac, Aston Hornet, Princetown Flyer, Wild Milly, Sweet Secret, Tappet, Sher Zany and Windsor Girl (not in box order).