Bourne Nicko, beaten into second place by Hannah Rocks in a heat of the previous week’s Fast Forward series (512 metres) at Tara Raaceway, turned the result around in last Thursday’s Category 2 prize money final.
Owned and trained at Allandale East by David Peckham, the black dog found the front going out of the first turn and from then on was never headed when defeating Hannah Rocks by 2¼ lengths in 30.29 seconds.
By Bernardo, in second spot on the leading local sires’ list, Bourne Nicko is out of Dusseldorp who currently shares the leading local dams’ honours with Sisco Sizzle.
Fast Forward heats and finals over 400 metres and 512 metres are run on a monthly basis with the finals comprising the fastest eight greyhounds, irrespective of their finishing positions in the heats.
Bourne Nicko now joins earlier 512 metre winners from this year in Cadillac Patch (Captain Abbott), Hooked On Love (Tracie Price), Four Longnecks (Adam Mackereth) and Compton Chloe (Tracie Price).
The win continued a good week for Peckham who was successful at the Tuesday Murray Bridge straight track meeting with Federal Flash and Cawbourne Stella.
In addition, Aston Ziebell ran second in the Murray Bridge Straight Track Cup.
And on Friday night at the Group 1 Sandown Cup meeting, Captain Larry, of which Peckham is a part-owner with the Nineofus Syndicate, took his earnings to close to $90,000 when winning the Mixed 3/4 Stake (515 m) in 29.41 seconds.
Back at Tara Raceway last Thursday and Mount Gambier trainer Noel Perry continued his good year when bringing up his 11th winner with newcomer Mason Lava in the Klaassens Contractors Maiden Stake (305 m).
A giveaway on the back of a couple of minor placings on Victorian tracks, the brindle dog jumped well from box two and was always on the pace before scoring a 1¼ length win over the wide-running Ezekiel Lad in 17.96 seconds.
If breeding can be taken as any sort of guide then Mason Lava should not have too much trouble in running out distances further than 305 metres given he’s by the US sire Superior Panama out of Annie Lava, a Victorian city-winning stayer.
It was a busy few days for Berringa trainer Michael Niele who was at Tara Raceway for last Thursday’s time-graded meeting – wins by Problem Angel and Stormin’ Frank giving him his best day this year at the local track.
And he was back again on Sunday for the running of the Michelle Niele Memorial Dual Challenge final over 600 metres which was won by the Peter Franklin owned and trained Moonlight Kiss.
This was the third running of the memorial, run in memory of Michael and Vicky Niele’s daughter Michelle who lost her battle with cystic fibrosis in November 2019.
Meanwhile, Thursday was also a day of multiple winners for Cap Abbott of Edenhope and Compton’s Tracie Price who landed three and two winners respectively – Abbott ending the month with eight winners and Price 17.
And Velocity Lotus, currently in the Mount Gambier Greyhound of the Year top 10, looked well placed in the Exchange Printers 5+W Stake (512 m) for Moorak trainer Jason Newman.
In the end the daughter of Keybow and Velocity Charm got there by a neck over Midnight Blast in a time of 30.23 seconds for owner Steve Williams of Queensland’s Velocity Lodge.
Then, at Sunday’s meeting, Williams enjoyed further success when first starter Pursuit stormed home for a head win over Love Me Better in the Carlin & Gazzard Maiden Stake (305 m) in a time of 18.15 seconds.
Trained by Peter Crawley, Pursuit, a son of Catch The Thief and Velocity Anifrid, found his way down to Mortlake earlier this month as part of a Williams’ package deal that also included litter sister Velocity Devine who finished fourth on debut behind Pursuit.
“Apparently Steve had approached Jason to see if had room for some more pups that were ready to go,” Crawley said.
“Jason’s kennels were full at the time and he recommended me to Steve.”
