Ladbrokes Chief Havoc Cup
Northern Rivers trainer Garry Streatfield won his third Chief Havoc Cup at Gunnedah on Sunday night when Glenreagh Skud came with a well-timed run to win the event.
Streatfield won the 2013 and 2014 Chief Havoc Finals when his grand campaigner Glenreagh Rocket won back to back titles, coincidentally the last on grass and the first on sand at the Gunnedah track.
Glenreagh Skud is the son of El Grand Senor and Magic Diore, who was runner-up to Glenreagh Rocket in the 2014 Cup.
Showing brilliant early speed, Lizzy Keen – the 340m and 431m track record holder – led from box eight but was pressured by Gunnadoo Roller, with favourite Jingles Keeping and Glenreagh Skud just off the pace.
Swinging for home any of the quartet could have won but it was Glenreagh Skud charging through along the rails to snatch the win.
Watch Gleneagh Skud win the Chief Havoc Cup Final
Origin Greyhound Series
NSW were losers one night, winners the next in Brisbane last week. The rugby league team were well beaten by the Maroons at Suncorp Stadium, but our greyhound team did us proud, bringing the Origin Shield to NSW for the first time.
The key for NSW was the all the way victory of Poco Dorado in the Distance Origin event. This was the event Queensland were favoured to win, but the John Finn-trained Stayer produced her best and gave nothing else a chance, beating her sister Veloce Nero, with NSW teammate Little Digger third.
Another shock came in the Origin Sprint when local Dam Slippery led all the way, upsetting the fancied NSW runners, which left it to the match-race, and despite slipping on the mat soon after jumping, Ray Smith’s Feral Franky had the class to chase down his rival Infrared Star and score, to clinch the series 2-1 for NSW.
Watch Feral Franky win the Origin Match-Race here
Gold Muzzle Auction
The inaugural Ladbrokes Gold Muzzle Puppy Auction is now less than two weeks away with more than 100 greyhound Pups to be offered for sale at Richmond Racetrack on Sunday, June 23.
The final draft totals 118 pups and all pups sold at the Gold Muzzle Auction are eligible to compete in the 2020 Golden Muzzle Race Series which will offer more than $100,000 in total prize money.
The catalogue was released last week and Mark Duclos, Managing Director of GMA, said Auction Day promises to offer something for everyone, including those looking to buy a potential champion.
"Apart from having some of the best-bred pups for sale, our activities on auction day will also include an Owners’ and Trainers’ forum with Group 1 winning trainer Jason Mackay, and Australia's foremost breeding expert David Brasch as our guest speakers," he said.
"We are also catering for the whole family who wants to enjoy the day and we'll have face painting, jumping castles and other entertainment for the kids along with plenty of food and beverage options."
Pups will be available for viewing from 10.30am on the day with the auction being staged undercover from 12.30pm.
To download a catalogue go www.goldmuzzleauctions.com.au
Gold Cup for Poco Dorado
Now that she has found her form and confidence, John and Minnie look like they will give their star Stayer Poco Dorado a shot at the $150,000 Group 1 Gold Cup at Albion Park.
Heats of the Cup will be held this Thursday, and soon after arriving home for the Sunshine State last Friday, Minnie hinted they would be back in Brisbane following the resounding all the way victory in the Origin Distance race.
“We may as well have a crack while she’s fit, happy and confident,” Minnie said.
Watch Poco Dorado win the Origin Distance event here
NSW Bred Maiden Series
Cullinan, named after the largest and most valuable diamond ever found, was the standout from last Wednesday night's heats of the NSW Bred Maiden Series at Wentworth Park.
Trained by John Finn, Cullinan was fourth away but sped to the lead at the first turn and defeated Fernando Porche by two lengths in 30.03s, easily fastest of the four heats.
On a wet track, the other heat winners were Hurricane Tears in 30.21s, Chill Easy (30.43s) and Naturally Gifted (30.44s).
Cullinan, a giant 35kgs greyhound, making her one of the biggest females racing in Australia, will be all the rage for Saturday night's $10,000 final at Wentworth Park.
John Finn, a trainer for over 50 years, said: "I have trained bitches that weighed up to 32kg but not seen a female as big as Cullinan.''
Watch Cullinan win her NSW Bred heat
Adoption Day
Stay tuned for more details later this week surrounding our next Adoption Day.
It will be held on June 30 at Rose Bay, and a massive day is planned with around 40 greyhounds available on the day, all looking for their forever homes.
But don’t forget, if you are interested, you don’t need to wait until June 30. We still have dogs available at our Western Sydney and Wyee GAP facilities ready to be adopted.
For more information on greyhound adoption head to the www.gapnsw.com.au
Coonamble Carnival
It’s becoming one of those events greyhound enthusiasts must put on their bucket list, and it won’t be long and the famous Coonamble October carnival will be upon us.
The club recently released details of the carnival which will stretch over four days of festivities, beginning Friday October 4 through to a gala day of racing action on Monday, October 7.
The headline event in 2019 will be the Garrards Horse & Hound Gold Maiden Series (305m), carrying $10,000 to the winner. First run in 1977, the event has been won some by some of the sport’s elite sprinters throughout its 42-year history.
Click here to see the full schedule for the Coonamble Carnival
Wentworth Park Saturday
Just two trainers, Jodie Lord and Peter Sims, won 50 per cent of the card at Wentworth Park on Saturday night, with Lord's Cawborne Marty clocking fastest time of the meeting.
Based at Gunning on the way to Canberra, Lord won with Cawborne Marty in 29.78s and Cawbourne Madox in 30.22s before Joker Poker took out a roughly-run final event in 30.65s.
Sims, from Illabo, near Wagga, brought only Tom's Desire and Instantaneous to Wentworth Park and both were successful, the former overcoming a slow start to win in 30.29s and the latter leading throughout in 30.11s.
Cawborne Marty, whelped in March, 2017, is eligible for the July 6 heats of the Group 1 Vic Peters Classic, as is Jimmy Casey, who came from third early to win in 29.91s on Saturday night.
Also a candidate for the Vic Peters Classic is Kid Candle, who scored his third Wentworth Park win in six appearances on Saturday night.
Kid Candle was fourth away but after being second at the first turn, hit the front on the home bend and won easily in 30.26.
Watch Cawborne Marty’s Wenty win here
