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.