Australian Cup Trophy On Display At Devonport
The magnificent 2014 Australian Cup trophy was on display for all to see at Tuesday's NWGRC meeting conducted at the Devonport Raceway.
In recent days the trophy has been shared around by the proud owners of Buckle Up Wes and their families. Part-owner Sharon Sutton was in attendance at the meeting for the purpose of firstly “doing a John Singleton” and shouting the bar and letting the general public view the trophy.
The success of Buckle Up Wes will do wonders for the greyhound racing industry in Tasmania and in particular the North West Coast region, the home of the Johnson and Sutton families.
Meanwhile two heats of the annual feature, the Reg and Aileen Ivory Memorial Classic, were conducted at Tuesday's meeting and the $5,700 final will be conducted next week.
No doubt the Ivory family would have been extremely proud of their grand-daughter Sharon, had they been around in this day and age to participate in the Australian Cup celebrations.
Launceston's Grubb family qualified litter-mates Sing The Song and Quick Advance for the Ivory Memorial Classic, when they ran the quinella in the first of the heats.
Quick Advance led from box one, but was collared in the straight by the bitch Sing The Song, which recorded a time of 25.51 in winning the 452 metre affair.
Buckle Up Brett, from the Johnson kennel, filled third berth and along with the fourth placegetter Captain Thomas, has earned the right to contest the final.
The second heat was taken out by the smart chaser Hellyeah Bolt, which proved to be too strong in the concluding stages for Golden Sage and Woodleigh Doll in the time of 25.47.
Oscar Ralph, an occupant of Maurie Strickland's Bracknell kennel, finished a close up fourth and will also join the fight for the big bucks on offer.
Robert Grubb, who along with his son Robin, tends to the superb High Earner – Stylish Moon litter, is of the opinion that Sing The Song will be suited in box 7 next Tuesday.
“She likes it out wide and will give a great account of herself, with Anthony Bullock's dog Hellyeah Bolt the obvious danger,” he explained.
“We have probably won fifty or sixty races with members of this litter and Sing The Song is the quickest, although the ill fated Kiss Me Elvis, which broke a leg, also had an abundance of speed.”
Meanwhile the Brian Crawford prepared Alvin Benz appears to have turned the corner and was very impressive in winning The Advocate Grade 5 (580 metres) event at Tuesday's meeting.
Raced by Crawford in partnership with his son Justin, the son of Big Daddy Cool has now won two races in succession and is finally revealing his true potential.
The chaser put six lengths on his rivals while running a personal best time for the journey of 33.04 and is one to follow in coming months.
$5,700 REG AND AILEEN IVORY MEMORIAL CLASSIC (452 METRES)
1. Hellyeah Bolt Anthony Bullock
2. Woodleigh Doll Dennis Wood
3. Captain Thomas Alison Walker
4. Buckle Up Brett Gary Johnson
5. Golden Sage Butch Deverell
6. Quick Advance Robin Grubb
7. Sing The Song Robert Grubb
8. Oscar Ralph Maurie Strickland
9. Stylish Abbey (Em 1) Robin Grubb
10. Gracie (Em 2) Donna Goodluck