It’s fair to say that Dimora Bernie had set herself a fair task a couple of weeks ago after finishing fifth in a first round heat of the Tri-Distance series (512 metres) and picking up four points for a fifth placing.
But a 10 point return when winning a second round heat over 305 metres ensured the daughter of high profile sire Tommy Shelby a place in last Sunday’s $3000 final over 400 metres at Tara Raceway. And even better, she drew box one.
Bred and owned at OB Flat by Kevin Bouchier, Dimora Bernie was away well from the inside, and down the back opened up a handy break early over Way Cool and Rivia Umiko.
And in the run home, the blue bitch, trained at Allendale East by David Peckham, held off a fast finishing Way Cool to win by a half-length in a personal best time of 22.91 seconds with High Cube a further 3¼ lengths back in third spot.
Both minor placegetters are by Flying Ricciardo out of Miami Fernando and are owned and trained at Portland by Robert Halliday.
Dimora Bernie, whose dam Dimora Flash won 12 races at Tara Raceway, has now raced on 21 occasions for eight wins at the local track for prize money of close to $10,000.
The story goes that, as a pup, Dimora Bernie – a February 2023 whelping – had been patriarch Bernie Bouchier’s pick of the pups. However, Bernie had died at 74 in the following January. And when the time came for the pups’ naming, son Kevin went with Dimora Bernie for the blue bitch.
The win in the Trackside Pet Meats sponsored Tri-Distance series brought up a treble for Peckham who earlier in the day had been successful with My Mate Robbie in the Trackside Pet Meats Pick 6 Stake (512 m) and Lenny Limes in the Federal Hotel Stake (305 m).
My Mate Robbie, a son of Fernando Bale and Grace Ali, brought up his fifth win from nine starts when leading all the way from box two for a two length win over Bomb Rocky in 30.00 seconds.
And the Bouchier-owned Lenny Limes found the front turning for home with the son of Aston Rupee and Elle Limes eventually running out a 2½ length winner over Aston Sushi in a time of 17.69 seconds.
Siring his first winner last Sunday was Giant’s Flash, the son of Banjo Boy and Navada Flame winning 26 races and still the Tara Raceway 600 metre record holder with a time of 34.58 seconds which he established in December 2022.
The winner was Cinta’s Me Mum, a daughter of Spot On Cinta. Having her fourth start on the back of two third placings and a last start second, she found a bit of trouble in what ended up a three-dog race due to scratchings.
But the Tracie Price trained black and white bitch finished strongly in the run home for a half-length win over Nulla Our Prize in 18.30 seconds in the Ferness @ Stud Maiden Stake (305 m).
The win also kicked off a good day for the Compton-based trainer who followed up with a further three winners – Pinky Rocks, Compton Lass and Held For Ransom.
Pinky Rocks (Tommy Shelby x Rock It Barcia), who went close to the 400 metre record 10 days ago when winning in 22.54 seconds, led all the way in the Metal Worx Stake (512 m) for a two length win over Weblec Polly in 29.54 seconds.
In the Ontrack Insider Open Stake (305 m), Compton Lass (Aussie Infrared x Banjo Lass) led all the way from box two when defeating Kazakhstan by 4¼ lengths in a quick 17.31 seconds.
And in the Greg Martlew Autos Stake (305 m), Held For Ransom (Bernardo x Dyna Quota) quickly found the front from box five before running out a 2¾ length winner over Shanny Rose in 17.55 seconds.
Meanwhile, the last time Murray Bridge trainer Terry Daly had been successful at Tara Raceway had been on Anniversary Cup day last year with Pin Up. Close to a year later he was back again with the in-form Pure Gout who contested the Carlin & Gazzard Stake (400 m).
The 23.8 kilogram pint-sized daughter of Fernando Bale and Nangar Diva – a winner of 20 races and $140,000 in prize money – went into the race on the back of four wins at Angle Park. And jumping from box two, the black bitch led all the way for a half-length win over Aston Deutz in 23.12 seconds.