Apilla powers to historic Group 1 Association Cup win
Apilla delivered a dominant staying performance to win the Group 1 Association Cup Final at Wentworth Park on Saturday night, stopping the clock in 41.97 for the 720m trip and etching her name alongside South Australian greats of the past.
Trained by Damien Smith and bred and owned by Cameron and Yvonne Butcher, Apilla charged to the lead from box two and never looked back, gapping her rivals with a powerful mid-race move for the $4.60 with top greyhound bookmakers.
The daughter of My Redeemer and Rosie Red stretched six lengths clear of Max Capacity, with outsider Paw Dimetra running the race of her life to finish third.
Apilla became just the third South Australian greyhound to claim Wentworth Park’s premier distance race, joining Ascapella Miss (1974) and Bayroad Queen (1982) in an elite club.
Her 41.97 winning time bettered last year’s mark set by Palawa King (42.06), though it still sits behind the race record held by Zipping Orlando (41.53).
2025 Group 1 Association Cup Final – Apilla (41.97)
Smith, who has spent much of the last fortnight travelling back and forth from Murray Bridge to Sydney, was rewarded with his first Group 1 title and a moment to savour with family on track.
“It’s all still sinking in,” he said post-race.
“We’ve put in the miles, and this girl just keeps improving. She’s naturally strong, but she’s still working it all out.”
The win was Apilla’s fifth in a row and takes her record to 12 wins from 30 starts and prize money earnings beyond $130,000.
Smith confirmed plans to target the Group 1 The 715 at The Gardens later this month, with the Association Cup campaign doubling as a test run for travel and routine.
Max Capacity lost no admirers in second, running home strongly after early interference, while Paw Dimetra, a $101 outsider, was gallant in third after carving across early.
For Smith and his young family, who spent Sunday at Sydney’s aquarium in celebration, the win was a fairytale moment on the big stage — one that has stamped Apilla as one of the most exciting staying prospects in the country.
2025 Group 1 Association Cup Final Results
2025 Association Cup Final ResultsWentworth Park 720m Group 1 $75,000 to-the-winner Saturday, April 12, 2025
|
|
| 1st |
2 Apilla
T: Damien SmithTime: 41.97Margin:
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| 2nd |
1 Max Capacity
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| 3rd |
8 Paw Dimetra
T: Wayne WhiteTime: 42.77Margin: 11.50 Lengths
|
| 4th |
7 Law Book
T: Jodie LordTime: 42.89Margin: 13.25 Lengths
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| 5th |
9 Lanfranco
T: Brooke EnnisTime: 42.94Margin: 13.75 Lengths
|
6th |
4 Moorong Marvel
T: Angela Della BoscaTime: 43.21Margin: 17.75 Lengths
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| FTF |
5 I’m Sally
T: Rebecca EdenboroughTime:Margin:
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| FELL |
6 Late Night News
T: Caroline HughesTime:Margin: Lengths
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