A look at the Mount Gambier Cup heats
With six heats of the Commercial Hotel Mount Gambier Cup (512 metres) to be run at Tara Raceway on Sunday afternoon it’s fair to say the Group Listed event has held up pretty well.
Highlighting the first heat will be the clash of GALACTIC ATHENA (box 3) and SAINT MAC (box 8), the former back to something like her best when winning last week’s Easter Gift (512 m) for long-time local trainer Steve Bartholomew in 29.64 seconds. Now she’s looking to become the first greyhound to win two Mount Gambier Cups after being successful in 2019. Saint Mac, trained at Koroit by Peter Byrne, hasn’t raced at the track but last month strung together three on the trot at Geelong and Warrnambool.
In the second heat, Killarney trainer Kevin Mugavin’s SPRING VALUE (box 6) has won 11 from 17 at the track and distance. Mugavin is no stranger to Mount Gambier Cup success with Poetic Magic successful in 2006 and Rich Shiraz in 2012. TIGER TIME (box 8) looks well drawn for Mount Moriac trainer Kevin Ward after some solid performances on Victorian tracks while RENEWED (box 2) is coming off some solid efforts in WA for Adelaide trainer Bec Romyn.
There looks to be plenty of pace in heat three of the cup with Koroit trainer Peter Keane’s HELLO KEEN (box 6) turning in an outstanding effort last Sunday when leading all the way over 512 metres in 29.58 seconds. Laharum trainer Jeff Guy’s FUGACIOUS (box 7) strung together 29.66 seconds and 29.70 seconds wins at the track last month. And Nathan Wilson’s OAKVALE BLUE (box 8) was a 29.73 seconds (515 m) winner at Angle Park late last month for the Pinnaroo trainer. HOSTILE SAVAGE (box 2) is trained at Portland by Neville “Nifty” Lenehan who will be looking to emulate his father, Brian, who won the cup in 1993 with Immortal Flash.
Hello Keen looks a top chance in heat three of the Mount Gambier Cup (512 m) on Sunday after a quick 29.58 seconds win at Tara Raceway last week.
He is pictured with trainer Peter Keane of Koroit.
Lara trainer Deb Coleman’s ZIPPING ZARBO (box 4) looks the one to beat in the fourth heat. A winner of 22 races from 48 starts and $82,000 in stakemoney, the fawn bitch is a last start winner at The Meadows (525 m) in 29.79 seconds. Hamilton trainer Kyle Goodwin’s NIGHT TO BURN (box 1) was a 29.64 seconds winner at Tara Raceway last Sunday but jumps in class here. And Portland trainer Ben Boers will be hoping NITRO YAP (box 7) can emulate his dam, Lots Of Yap, who won the 2015 cup.
Heat 5 sees another greyhound in SUNSET MILO (box 4) looking to win a second Mount Gambier Cup after his success last year in a race record 29.42 seconds. He’s now trained at Allendale East by David Peckham, also looking to emulate his father, Allen, who won the cup in 1994 with Argyle Sally. Anakie trainer Andrea Dailly’s FABIOLA ZAD (box 8) is a winner of 13 races and $80,000 in stakemoney while local trainer Lee Bartholomew’s ROUGH PEARL (box 1), third in last year’s cup, should be better for last Sunday’s run when finishing second in a personal time of 29.98 seconds. MONTAYA (box 6) is trained at Mortlake by Peter Franklin who won the 2016 cup with Mojito Mayhem.
And in the final heat, Nathan Wilson’s OAKVALE STYLE (box 5) comes into race on the back of consecutive Angle Park 515 metres wins in 29.67 seconds and 29.75 seconds which should put her right in the mix here. Lewiston trainer Robyn Mackellar, who won the 2017 cup with Fabregal in a then-race record time of 29.78 seconds, returns with another daughter of Fabregas in the form of RAGIN’ REIGN (box 7), a 29.92 seconds winner over 515 metres at Angle Park last month. Andrea Dailly’s GYPSY BUN (box 6), with 14 wins and stakemoney of $63,000 is also likely to make her presence felt.