Set to battle for Cup

By Ben Hope
THE Cranbourne Greyhound Racing Club is gearing up for a big night next Monday after a number of local trainers made it through to the 520-metre Karingal Hub TAB Cranbourne Cup final.
Fedex – trained by Pearcedale’s Jason Thompson- and Ultra Rumble – trained by Devon Meadows’ Darren McDonald – are among the 10 runners who qualified for the $30,000 race held in Cranbourne this Monday.
Cranbourne Greyhound Racing Club manager Tony Wright said both Thompson and McDonald were very professional and are ranked among the top five trainers in Australia.
“Neither of them has won the Cup before, despite both being involved pretty consistently and making it to the finals last year,” Wright said.
“When you have the best from Victoria and around Australia running it’s good to have our locals represented.”
The fastest run in the 520 metre heats on Monday was Arvo Florence, trained by Terry Burns of Kooweerup with a time of 30.26.
However, Wright said the race was shaping up to be a close one with likely favourite Fedex (30.32) and Ultra Rumble (30.40) not far behind.
“Times are very even across the field so we will have a very competitive race,” Wright said.
“It is also a field of stronger dogs and I am predicting they will be coming hard in the straight with three or four staying pretty tight until the end.”
Last years Melbourne Cup winner Lord Ducal was scratched in Race Four and will not run in the Cranbourne Cup.
“Lord Ducal had been carrying an injury that didn’t come right before the heats,” Wright said.
“It was disappointing for trainer Jon Roberts as I know he was really looking forward to it.”
A number of track records have been previously set at the Cranbourne Cup with a 30.70 record from Elsie Belinda in 1978, a 30.07 record set by Marsha Brady in 2000 and the current track record of 29.68 set by Pororoca in 2006.
“These names are just part of a passing parade of greats that have entered the annals of Cranbourne Cup history – but it’s also testament to the event’s modern-day status that eight of the past 10 winners have clocked 30.21 or under,” Wright said.
“The Cranbourne Cup has a proud 35-year history and is revered as one of the most prestigious provincial events in Australia, and it’s been that way sine Great Power won the inaugural Cranbourne Cup in 1975.”
“As well as great racing there will be plenty of free activities for the kids and entry is free.”
Gates open at 6.15pm on Australia Day eve.