2014 Mount Gambier Cup Preview
A high quality field of chasers will contest the $7000 Mount Gambier cup today at Tara Raceway.
The fastest qualifier in the heats was the Paul Anderton trained Veetee Express (Black Enforcer-Keep Cool), who flew around Tara Raceway in 29.80, rewarding Anderton for the six hour drive from Devon Meadows.
Anderton was level headed today when discussing his dog's chance in the final. “We are hoping for a bit of luck. I'd love to win the race, but don't want to be too cocky. We are hoping for a clear run and if that happens we will hopefully get the money. Vince (owner Vince Tullio) was cock-a-hoop last week, but I try to keep a level head when discussing my chances. He is well drawn and hopefully we can get through the first turn safely.”
Veetee Express isn't the only dog that has made the trip for Anderton. Stay Warm will contest the ninth race on the card and Paul was confident about her chances. “She is a genuine 300 metre sprint bitch and if she can jump to the front, she should go well. We think that she will look the winner at some stage of the race.”
Three big dangers to Veetee Express will come from the Adelaide raiders Don Turner and Robyn Mackellar. Turner has a two pronged attack, with Poetic Mover and Stew's Mistake, who was bred and reared by Turner at his Lewiston property. Stew's Mistake (Cosmic Chief-Miss Eva Mai) has shown a lot of promise in his career and is on the way back from a serious injury. With a touch of luck from box seven he will be hard to beat. Turner is looking for back to back breeding success in the race, after breeding and owning last year's winner Colville.
“We have had a fair few dog's race around Mount Gambier for us in the past and it's a race we would love to win again. It's a real team effort at home. i wouldn't be able to do it without the support of my wife Gail. We have to work together, with the rearing and racing, it's too much for one person. We are hoping for a bit of luck early in the race, and if that happens we will be in there with a chance”, Turner explained.
Robyn Mackellar makes the drive from Adelaide with her smart chaser Dee Dee Corsair (Dashing Corsair-Catwalk Queen). Already a winner of 24 races, he will hope to make it a quarter of a century today in the cup.
GRSA CEO Matt Corby has also made the trek down from Adelaide and was very positive about the day ahead. “There is a fantastic crowd that has turned up. Cup day has been promoted well at a local level. It's a good sign when the CEO of GRSA has to park so far from the gate. The club is a real positive for our industry at the moment and are continuing to make giant leaps forward.”
“They have gone from fortnightly to weekly racing and are just about to have 600m boxes added to the track. There is a really nice feeling of optimism at the club moving forward.”
A boon for the local industry would be a win by a local dog. Striking Viking would be the best of the local hopes from the rails draw for trainer David Peckham. The Superman-Irish Fantasy bitch is undefeated from the rails draw and was a solid heat winner in 30.19.
Other local hopes are Cryer's Ruddy and Westlake Prinz. Cairnlea Peter will make the trip from Mortlake in Victoria, but has frequented Mount Gambier in the past. It will be tough for this trio, but with a touch of early luck they might surprise.