Victorian greyhound Aston Gozo attracted plenty of attention at last Friday night’s Cadillac Racing Mount Gambier Cup Calcutta auction which was conducted in Tara Raceway’s recently-upgraded clubrooms.
Owned by Ray Borda and trained at Ripplebrook by Robert Pallotta, Aston Gozo, a daughter of Aston Dee Bee and Aston Gwen, was a last start winner at Sandown Park over 515 metres in a quick 29.36 seconds.
With 63 greyhounds contesting the Group 3 event over 512 metres, she had been seeded number one in the Calcutta rankings and as such had been the last runner to be auctioned.
Traditionally the last runner auctioned attracts the most interest and last Friday night was no exception with spirited bidding resulting in Aston Gozo attracting a record-breaking top bid of $1560.
The previous highest Calcutta bid had been in 2024 when Adhana Rico, winner of last year’s Murray Bridge Cup, brought $1180. But he then finished second in his heat behind Paua Of Silence and failed to make the final.
Rounding out the top three from the 2025 Mount Gambier Calcutta were Adelaide-based Darcy Dakota, winner of the recent Murray Bridge Cup, with a bid of $630 and Victorian Leo Bale, a winner of 19 races and $64,000 in prize money, who attracted $620.
The Mount Gambier Cup has come a fair way since its first running back in 1981 at Glenburnie when the Calcutta was conducted in a woolshed on Jubilee Highway.
Bringing the Calcutta into the computer age in recent times have been Moorak-based Jason Newman – a Mount Gambier Cup winning trainer with Departure Gate in 2022 – and Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club vice-president Dave Green of Millicent.
Long gone are the days when members of the committee were recording auction results with pen and paper and then working out how much the purchaser of the cup winner would ultimately collect.
And working outstandingly well all night at the front of the room were MC Graham Gill, auctioneer Chris Manser of Green Triangle Livestock & Real Estate and spotter John “Slogger” Richardson.
Interim Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club manager Tim Lewis said it had been very pleasing to see local trainers and supporters getting behind the Calcutta.
“While attendance numbers had been slightly down, there certainly had been plenty of interest in the auction.
“We now anticipate the running of another terrific Mount Gambier Cup,” he said.
“There are a few people I would like to thank. First, Graham for his terrific MC work on the night.
“We look forward to seeing him back at Tara Raceway for the running of the Mount Gambier Cup final.
“The day will also include the official opening of the refurbished clubrooms.
“Also, many thanks to our long-time auctioneer Chris for the effort he continues to put in. This year, adding to the night was the spotter he brought along in Slogger – a real winner.
“And how much easier is the Calcutta to organise when the IT boys Jason and Dave are on board with their equipment? A terrific job that was really appreciated.”
Incidentally, the total Calcutta pool was $7344 with the breakdown being $5141 (first), $1468 (second) and $734 (third).
And come Sunday’s running of the Mount Gambier Cup heats, it was Aston Gozo who ran right up to his No. 1 Calcutta ranking when leading all the way in the first heat for a six length win over Lone Rooster in 29.62 seconds.
After the eight heats had been decided, Aston Gozo’s time had held up pretty well with only local hope Hunstman fractionally quicker for owner-trainer Robert Chuck after defeating Dirty Dash by 5¾ lengths in 29.61 seconds.
The box draw for the Mount Gambier Cup was conducted by Greyhound Racing SA Racing Manager Shaun Mathieson who made the trip down from Adelaide on Sunday.
2025 Cadillac Racing Mount Gambier Cup final, Sunday, April 6, Tara Raceway
Aston Apatite (trainer David Peckham)
Aston Gozo (Robert Pallotta)
Miss Mary Jo (Colin Kelly)
Huntsman (Robert Chuck)
Sharp Thief (Stuart Sharam)
Darcy Dakota (Kerry Stagg)
Oregon Caldwell (Jason Newman)
Got The Cash (Matt Lanigan)
Reserves: Piccolo Bale (Jack Trengove), Orli Bale (Correy Grenfell).
