The Grafton Cup will be held for just the second time on Sunday evening as eight runners attempt to etch their names on the silverware alongside inaugural winner Respectability.
A new fixture on the Greyhound Racing NSW calendar in 2022, the Group 3 Grafton Cup adds another feature race to the already existing Sprinters and Stayers Cups run during the annual July carnival.
The 2023 final, worth $25,000-to-the-winner, boasts an exciting line-up, with president of the Grafton Greyhound Racing Club, John Corrigan, predicting the Cup will land in the lap of a local.
“It’s a great field and it would do justice to any city track field we’ve got. Luck is going to play a big part in the result but Starline Express’ early pace is going to help him so if he can to the front around the first turn, he’ll be mighty hard to beat,’ Corrigan said.
“But the run of Jay Is Jay was enormous last Sunday. Reel ‘Em Bluey won the Taree Cup with ease and Dave Irwin’s dog, Impress Dressel, goes well too. The strength of the race is frightening really,” he added.
The sophomore edition of the cup will kick off a big few months of chasing in the State’s North, with the town's Winter carnival and the second ever edition of the Thunderbolt fast approaching.
“We’re aiming for people and participants to want to come and race at Grafton and we would like other clubs to look up to us. I think if you’re not ambitious in this world, you get left behind so we’re ambitious,” Corrigan said.
“The country cups are so important to the infrastructure of greyhound racing in NSW as well. The Brother Fox at Dubbo, the Maitland Cup, Taree just had theirs and I love it because the owners and trainers in the country deserve a share of the prizemoney on offer,” he added.
Reg Gardoll has already enjoyed a good ride in 2023 with his young gun Starline Express, with a second to Victa Damian in the Group 1 National Derby jumping off the page.
“I think he’s going to be a star of the future but he’s still got a bit of growing up to do. You wouldn’t even know he’s about the place but he’s a very keen chaser. He’s never been led to the first corner so I’ll be very surprised if he doesn’t lead, it’s just whether he can hold off some pretty good dogs,” Gardoll said.
“I wouldn’t say I’m favourite for the race but he’s there with a reasonably good chance. It would be marvellous to win our home town cup and I think he’s boxed where he wants to be, I just hope Johnny hasn’t given us the kiss of death,” he said in jest.
Gardoll already steering his winner of eight races from 17 starts (with seven minors) towards two more showcase races later in the year.
“We’re going to have to start travelling him more soon. He’ll have a little break then we’ll map where we’re heading next. We’re sort of thinking the Thunderbolt could be a race, then we’ll head to Sydney for the Vic Peters if it all works out,” Gardoll said.
Starline Express after winning the 2022 Christmas Juvenile Sprint with connections
The fastest qualifier from the heats was Commands Respect for John and Glenda Dart, with the latter pleasantly surprised at just how good her bloke is going.
“I think he’s absolutely flying at the moment. After the heat, I messaged John [Dart’s husband] and said “he’s on fire”. I think he’s every chance in the final too,” Dart said.
“His kennel name is Yogi and he was a like a teddy bear when he arrived but he’s a different dog now. He’s so fired up and he feels so well, he looks amazing in the yard and he’ll do his best for us,” she added.
“There’s a really good mix of dogs in the final and it’s good to see because there were a couple of years when covid stopped people travelling. John and I had our 46th wedding anniversary the other day and he’s from Grafton so it’d be great to win the cup for him” she said.
Dart making special point of acknowledging Commands Respect’s owner, Carolyn Knox.
“Carolyn is over the moon with how good he’s going. She’s always had dogs, she buys young pups when she builds up enough money in the kitty and she’s just great for the industry,” Dart said.
The Group 3 Grafton Cup final will be run in race 9 on the program on Sunday, May 7.
