2018 DAISH IRRIGATION AND FODDER STRATHALBYN CUP
After five terrific heats last Tuesday the $14,350 Daish Irrigation & Fodder Strathalbyn Cup final on Sunday night gave trainer Tony Rasmussen his first win in the event after more than 20 years trying when Shima Breeze scored in the final meeting every to be run at the Southern Greyhound Raceway.
In front of a huge crowd for the final meeting and with warm conditions the daughter of Fernando Bale and Simaquni was heavily supported prior to the event with up to $18 bet when markets opened however when the boxes flew open she started at $5. She began brilliantly form box 6 with kennel mate Shimando beginning just as fast from box 5 giving her a great run across the field with both leading easily to the first turn. Race favourite Spring Bridge for Greg Board began well from box 8 and was able to slot in midfield early while kennel mate and last years winner Spring Bloom began ordinary and found herself back in the pack. Reiko Rocketta for Troy Murray also slotted in well to be just off the pace early. Down the back straight and Shima Breeze ran to the lead and looked all over a winner with Spring Bridge running into second and giving chase while Reiko Rocketta ran to third. As heads turned for home Shima Breeze had a big enough break to hang on and win an emotional victory for connections in a slick 31.07. She won by 1 ¾ lengths from Spring Bridge which again had no luck in a feature race finishing second while Reiko Rocketta continued her excellent form finishing third a further ½ length away.
Shima Breeze is owned by Tim Aloisi and Matt Lehmann and with the $10,000 first prize she amassed prizemoney of almost $30,000 in 19 starts which include 7 wins and 8 placings.
The other feature on the night was the Strathalbyn Cup consolation which was taken out by Silver Timothy for trainer Lauren Harris and the last every race conducted at the venue was won by Zoometrical trained by John Sargent.
The Southern Greyhound Raceway at Strathalbyn is now closed in readiness for racing in that region to transition over to the new $8.5 million dual track facility at Murray Bridge. Their Cup meeting signalled the end of a 47 year history at that Club but also marks the beginning of a new era of opportunity for southern participants and the broader industry in general.
When Strathalbyn opened in 1971, it became only the second registered track to race in South Australia after Whyalla, the latter having opened earlier that year after the Government had passed legislation to legalise gambling on greyhound racing. In that first instance, racing was conducted over two distances – 585 yards (535 metres) and 825 yards (754 metres). Despite being one of the oldest Clubs in the state, the Strathalbyn track was only promoted to the status of being a Sky venue for broadcast into hotels, agencies and homes from 2010.
The industry owes a debt of gratitude to the Strathalbyn Club for the role that it has played in keeping racing in that region strong and enabling the opportunity for future growth as a result of the Murray Bridge venture.