By David Lewis
THE Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club (MGGRC) Mount Gambier Cup carnival was off to a flying start last Friday night at Tara Raceway, with a record-breaking Calcutta auction.
With 58 greyhounds drawn to contest Sunday’s eight heats, it was auctioneer Chris Manser of Green Triangle Real Estate – looking and sounding slightly the worse for wear – who rose to the occasion with his customary professionalism.
Adding to the professionalism of the night was MC Kevin “KD” Douglas, whose insights into the cup contenders ensured the enthusiastic audience was fully aware of what they were bidding on.
The 58 cup runners had previously been graded into four groups (D, C, B, A) – the first two groups to be auctioned comprising 22 and 19 runners respectively.
Topping the bidding at $160 in Group D was the Cap Abbott owned and trained Edenhope-based Top Cadillac, a winner of nine races from 20 starts, but off the scene since the end of January.
Abbott and partner Kerry Hawker, of Cadillac Racing, this year are the MGGRC’s major sponsor and were extended an appreciative round of applause on the night.
Also attracting interest with a bid of $125 in the first group was Aminah, a 29.78 seconds winner over the cup distance of 512 metres at the end of February for Dennington trainer Dustin Drew.
Group C resulted in another Drew-trained runner in Aston Kalkara topping the bidding at $210.
A finalist in last year’s Warrnambool Cup, the son of Aston Kimetto x Aston Upton is unbeaten in three runs at Tara Raceway over 512 metres.
Canya Exceed, trained at Rowsley by Matt Lanigan, brought $205 on the back of three pretty handy runs at Sandown Park over 515 metres last month, after having resumed from a six-month break.
In Group B, Long Haul, winner of the recent Murray Bridge Cup Consolation (455m) for Two Wells trainer Kiah Hurley, was auctioned for $300, while Follow The Band, trained at Avalon by Danny Gibbons, who won last year’s cup with Titan Blazer, brought $260.
Traditionally, by virtue of the way in which the cup contenders are grouped, the last greyhound auctioned on the night in Group A generally brings the highest amount.
Originally, Like Wildfire had been listed as the last to be auctioned, with Adhana Rico the second last.
However, Douglas had been keen to swap the pair, with the result being Adhana Rico was purchased by a syndicate of 15 for $1180 – a record price for a MGGRC Calcutta.
Owned and trained at Lewiston by Cameron Forshaw, the son of Fernando Bale and Bella Rico is a winner of 27 races and more than $207,000 in prize money.
While the Group 3 Cadillac Racing Mount Gambier Cup is worth $26,000 to winner, Forshaw will chase a $10,000 Greyhound Racing SA bonus if Adhana Rico, winner of the recent Murray Bridge Cup, can win the cups double.
Like Wildfire, winner of his past five starts at Angle Park for Munno Para trainer Tim Aloisi, was the subject of spirited bidding before being sold for $965.
Aloisi will chase his second Mount Gambier Cup after Sunset Milo defeated Kipling in 2020, then a Group Listed event.
In what is another record, this year’s Calcutta payout following the running of the final on Sunday, April 14 will be $5330, $1520 and $760 for the purchasers of the three placegetters.
But come Sunday, though, and things did not go quite to plan, with the highest priced greyhound from the Calcutta into the final having been sold for $210.
Actually, the final field makes for interesting reading.
Box 1 Chapel Road (Calcutta price $180), 2 Mighty Quinn ($25), 3 Bern By ($60), 4 Purified ($35), 5 Aston Marvel ($180), 6 Myall Mate ($75), 7 Paua Of Silence ($140), 8 Uriel Bale ($210). Reserves: 9 Kai Bale ($660), 10 Adhana Rico ($1180).
