Sapphire Crown Success Eight Years In The Making

BACK in 2017, Noel Mugavin's speedy bitch Call Me Gee limped off Sandown Park having finished last in the Group 1 Sapphire Crown.

It would be the bitch's final race start and Noel sent her off to stud hoping, no expecting, Group quality offspring to emerge.

Fast forward to 2025 and that has become reality, but for South Australian Dave Peckham and his flying female Bourne Model.

On Thursday night, Bourne Model, a granddaughter of Call me Gee, sped to the front off her favoured box one draw and led throughout to win the G1 Sapphire Crown (515m).

It is the glamour race for bitches and brings together the greats of female greyhound racing.

She scored by a length over Group superstar Lakeview Emily with hot favourite, fellow South Australian, Dashing Slay in third.

Bourne Model, bred, raced and trained by Dave Peckham, had to run 29.29 to defy the challenges of Lakeview Emily and Dashing Slay to win.

She is by the great Feral Franky out of Sweet On Me.

Dave Peckham bought Sweet On Me from Noel Mugavin and took her back to South Australia to win at Angle Park and run second in the Murray Bridge Straight Track Cup.

Bourne Model is from her second litter.

The victory by Bourne Model was a family affair for Peckham who until he headed to Sandown Park with Bourne Model for the Sapphire Crown heats had never set foot on the track.

"It is a team effort," said Dave Peckham.

He admitted he had hoped for a top three or four finish with Bourne Model and was elated to have won his first Group 1 victory.

"That would have been icing on the cake, finishing top three or four. What a pleasure to win," he added.

He admitted the race was "all Dashing Slay" in the lead-up to the final.

"It makes it so special to have bred and reared this girl," he said.

"Now a Group 1 trainer, it's a special feeling."