Caption: South Australian trainer David Peckham’s recent five winners at Tara Raceway pushed him further ahead in the Mt Gambier premiership. (Photo: mtgambiergreyhounds.com.au)

Multiple winners By MIKE HILL

LEADING South Australian provincial trainer David Peckham increased his grip on the Mt Gambier trainers premiership with a five-win haul at a Tara Raceway meeting last month.

The ‘big five’ pushed the defending titleholder’s yearly tally to 123 wins, 31 in front of closest rival Tracie Price (92).

Peckham and Price have dominated the top trainers award since TAB racing was introduced at Tara Raceway in 2012.

Peckham, who led in 128 winners last year, is heading for his fifth title, while Price has won the award three times.

Multiple winners are nothing new for Peckham, who landed his 100th winner for the year back in September.

In his mid-40s, the Allendale East-based trainer is the son of former leading trainer Allen Peckham and has been involved in the sport since he was 13.

His winning five last month were Aston Model ($1.95 fav), Bourne Blue ($3.40), Angelo’s Entity ($2 fav), Midnight Daisy ($4.60) and Crown Simba ($5).

Not to be outdone, Price was one of five trainers across the country to rug up four winners at a meeting.

Price was also successful at Mt Gambier – a week later – with Boombox Shelby ($4.80), Ton Eighty ($10), Slick Fernando ($1.75) and Falcon Heavy ($18).

Other trainers with winning quartets included WA’s leading pair Chris Halse and David Hobby, Victorian Darren Fisher and country NSW trainer Charmaine Roberts.

Halse landed his four – Straw Bear ($1.80 fav), West On Grit ($2 fav), West On Axel ($1.70 fav) and West On Radar ($10) – at Mandurah, while Hobby was on fire at Cannington  with Cascade Monelli ($6.70), Sunset Toxic ($2.70 fav), Sunset Spitfire ($1.10 fav) and Steve Monelli ($2.20 fav).

Fisher had his success at Horsham with Race Car ($2.10 fav), Firefly Star ($6.20), Bulleteer ($5.90) and Longstaff ($2.80 fav) and Roberts was the punters’ pal at Dubbo with short-priced winners Oliver Keeping ($1.30 fav), Sienna Keeping ($3.90), Payton Keeping ($1.40 fav) and Joshua Keeping ($2 fav) as well as a quinella.

A host of trainers rugged up winning trebles at meetings across the nation.

NSW: James Porter (at Gosford), Pat Lavis (Casino), Rod McDonald (Wagga), Andrew Bell (Richmond) and Frank Jeffcoat (Bathurst).

SA: Matt Payne (Murray Bridge), Lisa Rasmussen (Murray Bridge), Troy Murray (Gawler), Natalie Crook (Gawler) and Kim Johnstone (Angle Park).

WA:  Chris Halse (Cannington) and David Hobby (Cannington, twice).

NT:  Steele Bolton (Darwin, twice).

Victoria: Andre Dailly (The Meadows, three times), Mark Delbridge (Sale) and Rod Clark (Horsham).

Queensland: Travis Elson (Albion Park), Carol Pickard (Townsville), Sandra Hunt (Albion Park),  Andrew Suli (Rockhampton) and Darren Taylor (Rockhampton).

Tasmania: Anthony Bullock (Launceston).