Ally Gal takes out Anniversary Cup Final at Ipswich
Ally Gal celebrated 41 years of Ipswich greyhound racing with a great performance to win the Anniversary Cup Final on Saturday.
The Jedda Cutlack-trained chaser lined up having run second in her heat behind Bora Blue in a time of 30.72, but she slashed that with her 30.52 time in the final.
With four wins and four placings from her last eight starts the Fernando Bale x She's Some Gal runner is showing her ability once again, adding to her career of 26: 10-5-2.
“She's a handy beginner, so when they lead the box doesn't matter as much,” Cutlack said.
“When she was in front going around the first bend I was confident.”
From the box she got out to the lead, turning the bend with the Casey Dargusch-trained Bora Blue in second and race favourite Carton Of Bear in third running on.
Brent Kline's favourite overtook Bora Blue moving up on the final turn behind the leader but would have to settle for second behind Ally Gal by 1.75 lengths.
Trainer Kline was happy once again with the run from Carton Of Bear.
“Very happy with his run even though we didn't win the race,” he said.
“As expected, there was a lot of early speed going into the first corner and he couldn't quite get through.
“To see him work hard to get to the leader was terrific to see – going forward he's going to see himself in that position from time to time, so it's a great learning experience.
“Moving forward we will target the Young Guns at Albion park – a track that he races well at.
“Hopefully he draws well and gets a clear run and he can build from there.”
Ally Gal's kennelmate Here Wolfe would take third.
“I was pleased with Wolfe,” Cutlack said.
“He's the opposite to her (Ally Gal) – he's very average out of the boxes but he's been running decent races recently and really putting himself in it.
“We will keep looking for suitable races for them as well as just go through the grades.”
The President of the Ipswich Greyhound Club, Rob Essex, was proud of how far the club had come and looked to the future.
“It is a great achievement for the club, not only ours but any club,” he said.
“When one thinks of 41 years it seems a long time, but as a person attending in 1980 through to know it could be many, many people that have been attending for all of those years.
“A great effort from all members, presidents and all committees.
“If one was to speak to any of our past members and mentioned the prizemoney on offer now compared to years gone by some would not believe the changes.”
As a passionate long-term advocate of greyhound racing, he also was excited for what was to come in the future of Ipswich Greyhound Club.
“I am what you may call chuffed,” Essex said.
“Bring on our new complex. All persons deserve a huge pat on the back and I am very privileged to be the guy in charge at the moment.”