Pickard family hoping for more success with Pebble's Girl

By Alex Nolan

Almost 50 years after meeting at the Cessnock greyhounds, Townsville husband and wife training duo Carol and Greg Pickard’s love of the greyhound continues to this day.

While their names won’t be listed in the form guide as trainers for Pebble’s Girl at Albion Park when she contests a heat of the TAB Middle Distance Challenge over 600 metres on Thursday, the couple will be cheering their in-form chaser and current trainer Jamie Hosking from afar.

Pebble’s Girl spent the first six months of her racing career under the watchful eye of the Pickards, where she won twice over the shorter trips before stepping up to the 643 metres in February.

After catching the eye with a strong second on debut at the middle distance, Pebble’s Girl was sent south to Hosking, who the Pickards struck a friendship with during their time racing greyhounds in Darwin.

She would win two starts later over the 630 metres at Ipswich in March, before a long run of minor placings and a quick trip to Sydney led to her second win over the journey in August.

Her first Albion Park win at the trip came in September, when she recorded a highly competitive 35.06 seconds to beat Hopeful Bella by 1.75 lengths. 

Scoring in a heat of the Listed QGOLD Summer Chase led to her running third in last week’s Final where, at one point, it looked as though she would go past quality stayers Oh Oh Range and Come On Aussie.

With those two out of the way this week, Carol said she hopes Pebble’s Girl can again put herself into the race early and be a winning hope.

“She has been really good and gives 150% every time she races,” Carol said.

“She should be able to go forward again and when she jumps, she normally does pretty well.

“Jamie has got her going so well and it’s a credit to him, really.”

The Pickards moved to the Northern Territory during Greg’s career in the Air Force and had moved away from racing dogs during that time.

But, after vowing to always return to the industry when circumstances permitted, Carol boxed her first greyhound at Winnellie Park on December 4, 2016.

“Carol got her licence, put a dog in and won her first race with Arabian Khaleese,” Greg recalls.

“It was a nice moment.

“We met at the Cessnock Greyhounds in 1972 or 1973, Carol’s dad had greyhounds and my family raced greyhounds as well.

“I joined the Air Force but we always said that when we get the chance, we’ll come back to it.”

After racing in Darwin initially, the couple moved to Townsville five years ago to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

Carol recently notched her 200th winner when Samurai Mind won a 380 metre maiden at Townsville on December 7.

Throughout their time back in the industry they have trained numerous handy chasers, but hold a special place in their hearts for Arabian Khaleese, Midnight Memphis – their first Albion Park winner – and Rimba Sambia, the dam of Pebble’s Girl.

The Pickards are committed to the lifelong care of the greyhound.  

“We pride ourselves on it and ensure the dogs go on to the right people,” Greg said.

They recently rehomed Rimba Sambia with another race dog, and both now reside with their daughter and grandchildren in Townsville.

“She is living a life of luxury in the house and yard, the grand kids fell in love and didn’t want her to go, so they took her,” Carol said of Rimba Sambia.

“We also rehomed the sire of Midnight Memphis, Lochinvar Marlow, down in Brisbane,” Greg added.

“The new owners still send us Christmas cards every year, in the last one the dog was sitting on Santa’s lap in a shopping centre.”

The couple currently have 11 chasers in work, but managed to find some time to travel south and cheer on Pebble’s Girl in last week’s QGOLD Final.

“It’s a very good series, the QGOLD and a pat on the back to Racing Queensland for putting it on,” Greg said.

Pebble’s Girl will exit box four in Thursday night’s second heat of the Middle Distance Challenge, which is race eight on the 11-race programme.

Things don’t get a lot easier compared to last week’s Final, as she’ll come up against the likes of Hidden Agenda in box five, Sunburst in box six and Rich Link in box eight.

“A win would be lovely, but I just hope she gets around safely,” Carol said.