It’s fair to say that when McLaren Vale trainer Gavin Harris headed off to the South East with Dashing Jordy early on Sunday morning for the club’s $50,000 Group 3 Trackside Pet Meats Mount Gambier Cup (512 metres) he would have been rating himself some chance in the final.

After all, the red fawn dog had already won more than $170,000 in prize money and in his heat the previous week had gone close to Uriel Bale’s 29.15 seconds track record when stopping the clock at 29.16 seconds.

But last Sunday morning, not all that far into his journey, Harris hit a road block in the form of a kangaroo. Fortunately, there was no damage to the passengers but a fair amount to the motor vehicle.

As luck would have it, Lewiston-based Ashlee Griffiths was also travelling down to Mount Gambier with partner Cam Forshaw’s cup contender Gunning Bandit and a few other runners who then found themselves joined by Dashing Jordy.

So Team Harris’ son of Fernando Bale and Dashing Wilma, as a result of Griffiths’ generous assistance, made it to Mount Gambier. Not so his trainer, though.

Although not considered that well drawn in box two, Dashing Jordy still went to the boxes a $1.90 chance. But turning into the back straight and Harris’s day just got worse when the favourite was checked out of the race.

Meanwhile, another Lewiston-trained greyhound in Rob Harnas’ front-running Flying Artie was looking to make every post a winner. And he gave it his best shot but was unable to hold out Gunning Bandit who won by 1¼ lengths in a race record time of 29.32 seconds.

The Mount Gambier Cup previous record had been established by the Victorian-based Titan Blazer who ran 29.36 seconds when winning the 2023 event.

Whelped in January 2024, Gunning Bandit had been purchased by Forshaw from NSW-based Andy Lord after having won two races and run two second placings at Goulburn in October last year.

“Cam had liked the look of him and he certainly hasn’t let us down,” Griffiths said. “He kicked off his SA racing career with a steady 31.42 seconds win at Angle Park late last year but since then he’s won another 10 races.”

There’s not too much wrong with his breeding. By Feral Franky, the brindle dog is out of Coast Model, the daughter of Fernando Bale and Champion Model winning 28 races and more than $268,000 in prize money.

Last Sunday’s win was Griffiths and Forshaw’s first Mount Gambier Cup although they had previously won the 2024 Murray Bridge Cup and the 2023 Gawler Cup with Adhana Rico.

And Griffiths, who has been based at Lewiston for the past two years at a property previously owned by well-known greyhound man Petar Jovanovic, is hoping for further exciting times with their greyhounds.

“We have provision for 30 greyhounds in kennels as well as five litters coming along that are all under six months of age,” said the daughter of Victorian-based Bec Romyn who trained Renewed, runner-up to Zipping Zarbo in the 2021 Mount Gambier Cup.

Complementing the cup was the Federal Hotel sponsored Mount Gambier Cup Consolation (512 m) for greyhounds that had contested the heats but missed out on the final. And making the presentation had been Toni Trabilsie.

On the back of a third placing in her heat behind Gunning Bandit it was box one runner Zipping Sigrid who found the front going into the back straight before holding on for a narrow win over Belair Betty and Capybara in 29.57 seconds.

Trained at Lara by Dallan Klemke, Zipping Sigrid is by Zack Monelli out of Zipping Miranda. She is a litter sister and kennelmate to Zipping Sandchez who also contested the Consolation. And contesting the cup final had been another litter sister and kennelmate in Zipping Andora.

Meanwhile, representing Greyhound Racing SA at the Mount Gambier Cup were David Lewis (Chairman and Non-Executive Director), Nicolle Rantanen Reynolds (Deputy Chair and Non-Executive Director) and Chief Operating Officer Ben Kavenagh.

Presenting the 46th Mount Gambier Cup to Griffiths was the Hon. Tony Pasin, Member for Barker. He also congratulated the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club on its outstanding efforts at the Lake Terrace East complex and the manner in which the sport is conducted.

Three-year-old litter brothers Fabulous Floyd and Fractious Fabian fought out the Icon Signs Maiden Stake (305 metres) at Tara Raceway last Thursday for Portland owner-trainer team Neville “Nifty” Lenehan and Nicole Stanley.

Bred by Stanley, Fabulous Floyd, following an interrupted start to his racing career, had been having only his second race start since last September after debuting over 305 metres with a 10 length sixth behind Dimora Tilly in a personal time of 18.72 seconds.

But the brindle son of Feral Franky and Looks Like Turbo made up for lost time last week when defeating his brother – who was having only his seventh race start – by seven lengths in 17.69 seconds.

And Lenehan landed his second double for the year at Tara Raceway after Senior Citizen, chasing her second win at start number 26, led all the way from box one in the Pindari Express at Stud TG1-4W Stake (305 m) and defeated Shanny Rose by 4½ lengths in 17.62 seconds.

By Orson Allen, Senior Citizen is out of Cryer’s Harper who won 22 races at Tara Raceway while being trained at Apsley by Tom Cryer.

Lenehan’s first double had come on January 1, along with David Peckham, April Janssen, Tracie Price and Rob Gore, when winning with Run Hammer and Lektra Hank.

Perseverance finally paid off for Coleraine owner-trainer Steve Colpoys who had taken over Aston Gosset, a son of Good Odds Harada and Aston Chandon, back in November last year.

“When I took him over he had won a maiden here in Mount Gambier but I have encountered plenty of problems with him to the extent that by the time his second win came around last week he had raced on only nine occasions for me,” Colpoys said.

Lining up from box four in the Cadillac Racing TG1-4W Stake (305 m) at start number 32, Aston Gosset led all the way for a 1¼ length win over Saint Kylie. This was the first winner for Colpoys since Remo Trigger won at Tara Raceway over 305 metres on July 18, 2024.

And after Koroit trainer Peter Keane helped out Lenehan earlier in the day with his quinella, come race nine – the Ontrack Insider TG1-4W Stake (400 m) – and it had been a case of achieving success in his own right with box one runner Big Boy Jett.

A litter brother to 2026 Mount Gambier Cup finalist Galactic Nemesis, the son of Blue Moon Rising and 2019 winner Galactic Athena is owned locally by Noel Miller and Peter Lamond of the Commercial Hotel.

Chasing his first win since last August, the black dog led all the way in the Ontrack Insider TG1-4W Fast Forward final (400 m) and picked up $1065 for connections after defeating Dimora Bernie by 3½ lengths in 22.90 seconds.

Cape Bridgewater owner-trainer Scott Blacksell landed his first winner since last October when Mocambora Mia led all the way from box one and defeated Rough Girl Mel by a length in 17.79 seconds in the Produce Store TG5+W Stake (305 m).

Purchased as a pup by Blacksell, the win was the 12th for the rising 4½-year-old daughter of Superior Panama and Sweet On Me and coincided with her 100th race start.

The eight heats of the 2026 Group 3 Trackside Pet Meats Mount Gambier Cup (512 metres) conducted at Tara Raceway last Sunday afternoon attracted one of the best crowds seen at Tara Raceway in a long time.

And flying the flag for the locals was Compton-based owner Robert Chuck after Galactic Nemesis led all the way from box six in the fifth heat and defeated Todd Keeping by 2½ lengths in 29.50 seconds.

Trained at Finniss by Lauren Harris since January 2025, the daughter of Blue Moon Rising will be chasing another Mount Gambier feature event after winning the Autumn Classic (512 m) in May last year.

And connections will now be hoping the white and brindle bitch can emulate her dam, Galactic Athena, who defeated Slingshot Hammer in the 2019 Mount Gambier Cup.

As is generally the case, the heats did manage to produce a couple of rough results by way of Swift Gift and Zipping Andora. However, the former did give Princetown owner-trainer April Janssen her biggest thrill in greyhound racing when reaching the final of the $50,000 event.

A $23 chance, the giveaway daughter of Aston Rupee and Mepunga Bella quickly found the front from box four in the second heat and then held out Neo Devere to win by a neck in a personal best time of 29.46 seconds.

And $41 longshot Zipping Andora, after settling in third spot in heat eight behind Galento and Compton Rocks, finished powerfully in the home straight to grab a narrow win in 29.33 seconds – the second fastest time of the day.

A daughter of Zack Monelli and Zipping Miranda, Zipping Andora is trained at Lara by Dallan Klemke who had been racing at Tara Raceway for the first time.

Highlight of the heats was the win of Dashing Jordy, a son of Fernando Bale and Dashing Wilma. Quickly away from box two, he ran out a 6¼ length winner over Intrepidus in the fourth heat in a near-record time of 29.16 seconds.

The 512 metre Tara Raceway record currently stands at 29.15 seconds and is held by Uriel Bale who established the record on April 7, 2024 when trained in Victoria by Rob Camilleri.

Trained at McLaren Vale by Gavin Harris for Team Harris, Dashing Jordy is now a winner of 20 races and prize money of more than $173,000.

Kicking off the cup heats for Lara trainer Danielle Smith was Gorringe, the daughter of Bernardo and Patriot Earhart setting the time standard with a run of 29.47 seconds when defeating Moonlight River by a length.

A recent two-time Sandown Park winner, Gorringe led all the way from box one, and now gives Smith her second group race finalist after having previously reached the final of the Horsham Cup.

Leading local trainer Tracie Price, also looking to figure prominently on cup day, fronts up with a finalist in the form of the strong finishing Statue Of Time, a son of Aston Fastnet and Pretty Much.

Wind Whiskers took up the early running in the third heat but it was Statue Of Time and Belair Crown who fought out the finish, the former winning by 1¼ lengths with a further neck back to the early leader in 29.44 seconds.

Statue Of Time is raced by Justin Tribe, the partner of Kiah Hurley who won the 2024 Mount Gambier Cup with Chapel Road.

Gunning Bandit, who kicked off his career with a couple of wins at Goulburn in the latter part of last year, before relocating to the Lewiston kennels of Cam Forshaw, turned in a big run to win heat six of the cup.

Settling in third spot down the back behind tearaway leader Capybara, Gunning Bandit threw out the challenge turning for home before gaining a head decision in 29.39 seconds.

A January 2024 whelping by Feral Franky out of Coast Model, Gunning Bandit is the youngest finalist. And Forshaw is now looking to add the Mount Gambier Cup to his list of group race achievements after winning the 2024 Murray Bridge Cup with Adhana Rico.

Another Lewiston trainer with a cup finalist is Rob Harnas after Flying Artie led all the way in the seventh heat, holding out Belair Betty for a three-quarter length win in 29.50 seconds.

Bred by long-time participant Harnas, Flying Artie is a son of Koblenz and Dyna Maple and boasts a terrific winning strike rate of 60 per cent after having won 22 races.

Conducting the 2026 Mount Gambier Cup final draw was Greyhound Racing SA Racing Manager Shaun Mathieson who made the trip down on Sunday.

The draw: Box 1 Flying Artie (Rob Harnas), 2 Dashing Jordy (Gavin Harris), 3 Statue Of Time (Tracie Price), 4 Swift Gift (April Janssen), 5 Gunning Bandit (Cameron Forshaw), 6 Zipping Andora (Dallan Klemke), 7 Galactic Nemesis (Lauren Harris), 8 Gorringe (Danielle Smith). Res. 9 Galento (Paul Galea), 10 Capybara (Tracie Price).

As far as the Mount Gambier Cup Calcutta is concerned, generally the last runner auctioned attracts the most interest. In fact, at the 2025 Calcutta it was the eventual cup winner, Aston Gozo, who attracted a record-breaking bid of $1560.

At Saturday night’s Calcutta, which had been conducted at Tara Raceway, the last runner auctioned, Galento, on the back of a recent quick win at the track, did attract the highest bid of $820 but missed out on reaching the final when beaten by a half head in the eighth and final heat.

As it turned out, none of the eight Group A greyhounds made it through to the final although Galento, trained by Paul Galea, is the first reserve.

Two runners from Group B, which was made up of 10 greyhounds, are through to Sunday’s final. Victorian trainer Danielle Smith’s Gorringe attracted a bid of $170 and goes into the final as the highest-priced runner.

Also through to the final from Group B is Dashing Jordy. And given that he was sold for $110 and won his heat in 29.16 seconds he looks to have been a pretty handy pick-up.

Group C provided half of the final field in Zipping Andora, Gunning Bandit, Statue Of Time and Flying Artie who topped that group with a bid of $72.

Group D came up with one finalist – Galactic Nemesis, who was sold for $20. And in Group E, Swift Gift goes into the final after being purchased for $10.

The Calcutta prize money break down is first $3448, second $985 and third $492.

Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club manager, Tim Lewis, said while attendance numbers had been down there had still been plenty of interest in the auction as well as a good crowd at Tara Raceway on the Sunday for the heats.

“Once again, the MGGRC would like to thank MC Graham Gill for his work on the night. We look forward to seeing him back at Tara Raceway for Sunday’s final.

“Many thanks to our long-time auctioneer Chris Manser of Green Triangle Livestock & Real Estate for the effort he continues to put in. And also to his spotter, the colourful John “Slogger” Richardson.

“Also, a big thank you to the IT boys in Dave and Jason. A terrific job that was really appreciated.”

From humble beginnings in a Jubilee Highway woolshed back in 1981, the Mount Gambier Cup Calcutta auction has been around for as long as the cup itself

This year’s Group 3 Mount Gambier Cup (512 metres) carries record prize money of $50,000 with the winner receiving $34,000. Eight heats will be run at the Lake Terrace East situated Tara Raceway this Sunday – March 29.

One of the many interesting runners in the cup is Intrepidus, a son of Aston Rupee and Mia Tesoro, who is trained at Ripplebrook by Rob Pallotta. He also has last year’s Mount Gambier Cup winner, Aston Gozo, back again.

Looking to follow in his father’s footsteps is local trainer Kevin Patzel with Aston Darwin jumping from box four in the first heat. His father, Ralph, trained Ashanti Gem, winner of the first Mount Gambier Cup run at Lake Terrace East in 1997.

And attempting to match Brian Lenehan, who won the 1993 cup out at Glenburnie with Immortal Flash, are his sons Phil, who has Lektra Beta engaged, and Neville (Shima Moon).

Lektra Beta won the $10,000 Spring Classic at Tara Raceway last November and recently recorded city wins in Victoria at The Meadows and Sandown Park. Shima Moon, on the other hand, has gone from a maiden to a Mount Gambier Cup heat in the space of a month.

Meanwhile, there were Cup contenders still trialling at Tara Raceway on Wednesday morning. This followed a special trial session organised by the Mount Gambier Greyhound Racing Club at the completion of last Sunday’s race meeting.

The Sunday session, which was for Mount Gambier Cup contenders, attracted 11 greyhounds from Adelaide and Victoria and was appreciated by all concerned.

Meanwhile, one of the Victorian trainers looking to give her greyhound Gorringe every chance in Sunday’s cup heats had been Danielle Smith, who these days trains out of Tina Womann and Dennis Trewin’s Lara property.

Gorringe, an October 2023 daughter of Bernardo and Patriot Earhart, had previously been trained by Josh Formosa, prior to Smith recently winning two races with her at Sandown Park.

“She’s settled in really well,” Smith said. “And I was more than happy with her trial at Tara Raceway in the lead-up to the cup heats, especially after she drew box one in the first heat.”

Originally from New Zealand where she worked with trainers John McInerney and Ray Adcock, Smith, once in Australia, had spent some time with the highly respected Dave and Rose Geall before becoming a full-time trainer.

She kicked her career off with two litters – by My Redeemer and Flying Ricciardo – the dams, I’m Poppy and Belle’s On Boost both delivering a 100 per cent strike rate. And following is a 12 month old litter by Jungle Panther out of I’m Poppy.

As far as the Trackside Pet Meats Mount Gambier Cup is concerned, Danielle Smith certainly looks to have given Gorringe every chance and will now be hoping for her first Group race success.

The Calcutta will take place on Saturday, March 28 at the Tara Raceway clubrooms where the 63 cup contestants, after being grouped into five categories, will be auctioned by Chris Manser, ably assisted by Graham Gill.

Group A comprises eight greyhounds and will be the last group of the night to be auctioned in the order of Unworldly, Aston Guitar, Nigel Devere, Compton Gold, Neo Devere, Intrepidus, Spicy La Vida and Galento.

Kicking the night off will be Group E – Compton Franky, Swift Gift, Belair Betty, She’s A Jumbo, Energy To Burn, Aston Darwin, Belair Brindle, Princetown Flyer, Baby Girl Pearl, Rock It Kathy, City Of Love, Moonlight Grand, Magic Tom, Belair Crown, Wraps, Big Diesel, Chuck A Party, Ritza Wotton, High Cube, Diamantina Pear.

Group D – Crocodile Roll, Slick Angel, Compton Rocks, Honey Zen, Galactic Nemesis, Todd Keeping, Minnie’s My Mum, Kia Keeping, Zipping Sanchez, Wind Whiskers, Bomb Luca, Moonlight River, Zipping Sigrid.

Group C – Statue Of Time, Flying Artie, Kisauni, Aston Gozo, Seger, Compton Gypsy, Shima Moon, Zinfandel Trace, Gunning Bandit, Binnaway Warrior, Mepunga Infrared, Zipping Andora.

Group B – Nola Keeping, Lektra Beta, Take A Little, Capybara, Nangar Lady, Utter Madness, Gorringe, Never Ever Late, Destroying, Dashing Jordy.