David Plumridge is dreaming big with homebred sprinter Peacock ahead of Saturday night’s heats of the Group 1 Golden Easter Egg (520m) at Wentworth Park in Sydney.
Plumridge will have his first ever interstate starter when late bloomer Peacock exits box two in heat eight (race 9, 8.47pm), where Sportsbet has marked him on the third line of betting at $5.50.
“I started thinking about the Egg a couple of weeks ago and decided to have a shot at it,” Plumridge explained.
“He hasn’t trialled at Wentworth Park, but fingers crossed he can run in the first three and get into the semis and anything can happen from there. We can dream!
“He’ll definitely be better for the run, but he’s a professional dog, he hasn’t drawn a bad heat and he’s near the fence.”
“I’ll drive up on Saturday. It’s going to be a great experience for him and me!
“He’ll definitely be better for the run, but he’s a professional dog, he hasn’t drawn a bad heat and he’s near the fence. He loves the inside!”
After finishing unplaced in an Australian Cup heat, Peacock bounced back with flying back-to-back Meadows wins, clocking 29.95sec and 29.78sec to earn a shot at the $300,000 to-the-winner Easter Egg.
Winner of 15 of his 60 starts, Peacock, a son of 2018 Melbourne Cup winner My Redeemer and Summer Nights that turned three in January, was also bred by Plumridge, who’s based in suburban Wheelers Hill.
Plumridge credits iconic Sandown GRC Chairman Neil Brown for his successful introduction to the sport in the late 1980s.
WATCH: Golden Easter Egg contender PEACOCK (B3) went back-to-back at The Meadows when clocking a sizzling Best Of Day 29.78sec on March 8.
“I got my first opportunity through Neil,” Plumridge explained.
“I worked with Neil’s sister-in-law and she put me onto Neil, when me and some schoolmates wanted to get a dog.
“We paid $2000, which was nice dosh back then, for a dog called Camona Mask. We put him into the Puppy Classic down at Traralgon and he ran second in the final. I’ve had the bug since then.
“I worked in the city for the State Government for 37 years and got out last year. Working from home during COVID enabled me to spend more time with the greyhounds, because I was saving 2.5 hours travelling time each day.
“I bred Peacock – I’m very interested in breeding, we all have our theories –and we gave Gerry O’Keeffe and Chris Langley a go with him before me.
“I think I just got him at the right time. He’s always shown ability but has never been consistent. For whatever reason, he does seem to be chasing better and boxing better.”
Click HERE for Sportsbet’s Golden Easter Egg heat markets
Peacock is raced by a syndicate that includes form expert Mitch Ebeyer, which is where the sprinter gets his name.
“Peacock’s brother is named Tomida, which comes from the first two letters of our names; Tony (Ebeyer), Mitch and David,” Plumridge explained.
“But the name we came up with for Peacock got knocked back, so I said to myself, I’ll stitch Mitch up and call him Peacock!
“Mitch was getting a bit of a profile in the media at the time and gets called ‘Peacock’ because of his hair. It’s worked out well!”
The canine Peacock is one of eight Victorians contesting Saturday night’s Golden Easter Egg heats, being joined by:
Kelsey Bale (heat 2, box 4 – $3)
Kaheem Bale (heat 3, box 7 – $4.60)
Baby Jaycee (heat 4, box 5 – $4.20)
Ailee Bale (heat 4, box 8 – $8.50)
Elite Alex (heat 5, box 7 – $4.20)
Yachi Bale (heat 6, box 6 – $4.60)
Landyn Bale (heat 10, box 4 – $4.80)
