Following the running of last Sunday night’s Group 3 Murray Bridge Cup heats (455 metres), three locally owned and trained greyhounds have made their way through to the $26,000-to-the-winner final.

Tracie Price, of Compton, struck the first blow for the locals when Compton Gold, after finding herself midfield early from box four, worked into second spot before finishing powerfully for a one length win over Seagull Rock in 25.94 seconds.

By Beast Unleashed out of Minnie Banjo, the March 2023 fawn bitch has now won five races at Murray Bridge and nine overall.

And in the second heat, Bourne Model, trained at Allendale East by David Peckham, settled in second spot behind Aston Corleone before finishing strongly for a one length win in 25.83 seconds.

A seven-race winner, the daughter of Feral Franky and Sweet On Me is raced by the Bourne Team which comprises Peckham along with Kevin Douglas, Kevin Patzel and Christine Yourgules – the trio receiving a share of the ownership in appreciation of their help out at Bourne Kennels.

Then, in the sixth of seven heats, it was Bourne Model’s litter brother Bourne Lickety who provided Peckham with his second cup finalist after he found the front from box eight before running out a two length winner over Blue Goose Boy in 25.87 seconds.

Lining up in the 2025 Murray Bridge Cup final on Sunday are 1 Dakota Ava, 2 Bourne Model, 3 Darcy Dakota, 4 Fantastic Spike, 5 I’m a Mustang, 6 Bourne Lickety, 7 Got The Cash, 8 Compton Gold.
With the cup being run as an afternoon fixture to dodge the nearby speedway meeting that night, Mount Gambier will now race in Sunday’s twilight timeslot.

And the Cadillac Racing Mount Gambier Cup heats will be run over 512 metres at Tara Raceway on Sunday, March 30 with the Group 3 final on Sunday, April 6.

A lead-up to the cup heats will be the Calcutta on Friday, March 28, commencing at Tara Raceway at 6 p.m. Auctioning all the cup runners will be Chris Manser while Graham Gill will MC the night.

Meanwhile, Greyhound Racing SA will be linking bonuses to both the Murray Bridge Cup and Mount Gambier Cup.

This will include a $5000 bonus if the same dog can win both cups. There will also be a $5000 trainer bonus if the same trainer can win both cups (SA or interstate or different dogs).