Once again, Gawler, Murray Bridge and Mount Gambier will each have two representatives in the SA Country Cup final which will be run on Adelaide Cup night at Angle Park over 530 metres on Friday, October 11.
The representation is a far cry from the days when greyhound clubs at Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Port Augusta, Port Pirie, Kulpara, Barmera, Strathalbyn and Mount Gambier were all involved in the SA Country Cup.
Back in 1995, Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club president Bill Ward was at Gawler the night his club’s representative, Nickelman, won the 531 metre final in a photo finish for Naracoorte trainer David Lewis.
And in 2008, Tickets Please, trained at Portland by Robert Halliday, represented Mount Gambier at Gawler in the final where he defeated Classy Ace, trained at Booleroo Centre by Don Fiebig.
The demise of the Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Port Pirie, Kulpara, Barmera and Strathalbyn (later replaced by Murray Bridge) greyhound clubs appeared to have put paid to the SA Country Cup.
But in 2013 the Country Cup was re-introduced and took in the country greyhound clubs still in operation – Gawler, Strathalbyn, Mount Gambier and Port Augusta.
Mount Gambier won the cup that year when Moorak Hope was successful for Moorak owner Allan Holmes and trainer Tracie Price. And in 2016 Nicole Stanley followed up for Mount Gambier at Strathalbyn with Berry Bling.
Back then, the final was shared between Gawler and Strathalbyn and coincided with those clubs’ cup nights.
In 2017 the SA Country Cup was switched to Angle Park to coincide with the Adelaide Cup. Mount Gambier representatives Colden Girl (Bea Bryant) and Paraphernalia (Jeff Guy) finished third and fourth respectively.
And while the Country Cup continues to complement the Adelaide Cup, these days there are only three country clubs remaining – Gawler, Murray Bridge and Mount Gambier – with each club supplying two finalists.
Halliday was back for another crack at the Country Cup in 2018 with a pretty handy greyhound by the name of Hutch. He recalls the occasion well.
“As far as that Country Cup was concerned we headed off to Adelaide full of hope after defeating Jeff Guy’s Paraphernalia in the one-off heat here at Tara Raceway. But Hutch found trouble in the final and later copped 10 days for injury.
“However, the night was far from being a write-off because I did manage to catch up with the delightful GRSA Hunnies!”
Fast forward to last Thursday at Tara Raceway and He’s All Purpose went around for Meningie owner-trainer Tim Richards in the Produce Store TG5+W Stake (512 m) at what was his 142nd start.
However, the February 2020 son of Aston Dee Bee and Purpose Driven, despite being a long odds-on favourite, never really got into the race. His race record remained unchanged at 44 wins, 22 seconds and 14 thirds for prize money of more than $105,000 – still pretty handy all the same.
Three years ago, though, He’s All Purpose represented Mount Gambier in the SA Country Cup final after an outstanding 29.69 seconds heat win over 512 metres.
And the then promising youngster upstaged his older rivals on the big stage at Angle Park when taking out the final from Murray Bridge representatives Barbados Express and Sudden Force in 30.76 seconds.
Mount Gambier’s representatives last year were Whiskey Chaser, trained by Tracie Price, and Lachlan Mill’s Tintinara-based Spartan Brave. They finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Making up this year’s $8500 SA Country Cup final (530 m) at Angle Park on Friday, October 11 will be Mount Gambier: Royal Nangar (Jack Trengove), Wild Banker (Tracie Price); Gawler: Doonan (Ben Rawlings), Pet Detective (Ben Rawlings); Murray Bridge: Weblec Marquise (Damien Smith), Dayne’s Calais (Yvonne Maxwell).
Meanwhile, at Sandown Park in Victoria last Thursday night, Galactic Spartan, owned at Compton by Robert Chuck, brought up his third successive win over the staying journey.
Trained at Rowsley by Matt Lanigan, the son of My Redeemer and Galactic Mojo’s win over 715 metres came on the back of two 730 metre wins at The Meadows.
Galactic Spartan commenced his racing career at Tara Raceway back in March when he strung together three wins over 305 metres and 400 metres before relocating to Victoria. His first win in that state came in August when he had been successful over 660 metres at Bendigo.
