The track record fell, superstars soared and one hell of a final field has been assembled for the 2026 Bulli Gold Cup after a remarkable night of chasing on the South Coast.
Gun sprinters Cumbria Jack, Eriza Sparkles and Jungle Johnny all won preliminaries of the $40,000 Group 2 series in spectacular style on Friday evening with many saying next week’s decider could be the best final field ever assembled for a provincial feature race.
Cumbria Jack also erasing Power And Glory’s name from the 472m record book after producing a remarkable 25.74 effort in his first start for eight weeks.
“He’s actually come in on a very limited preparation and I think there’s a bit more in the tank there…he’s untapped mate and I couldn’t tell you what he would do when he’s 100%,” trainer Steve Fitch said post-race.
“I wasn’t expecting him to go that quick, I was just hoping he’d get through but as I’ve said a few times before, the dog’s a freak.”
“He had a couple of weeks off to get over a toe [injury] and then we started doing a bit of trialling and he was running record times in trials. 10 days ago he hurt another toe and we thought we were 1000 to one to be here tonight but it came good pretty quick, so we put him in and he’s pulled up beautiful.”
Fitch returning to the winners circle 20 minutes later with Group 1 Dapto Megastar champion Eriza Sparkles also dashing to victory in a near record run of 25.76.
“She’s our superstar, I predicted during the week she would be the fastest bitch at Bulli come Friday night and she is mate,” he told Mick Cowley trackside.
“She’s trialled 25.9 here and on trial mornings, very few dogs run that and bitches don’t run that.”
“The speed was incredible [across the three heats] and the times these dogs were running…any one of them can win [the final] and whoever makes the least amount of mistakes next Friday night will win.”
Steve Fitch alongside Eriza Sparkles after the Bulli Gold Cup heat win
The dazzling display from the Fitch kennel overshadowing another standout performance from Jungle Johnny who qualified for another Group final with a 6.25 length victory in the opening heat.
The Mark Gatt-prepared chaser stopping the clock in 25.86 and claiming a fifth successive win.
“I couldn’t see too much from behind the boxes but he went straight [from Box 8] and then cut to the inside once he got into third spot, he got to the front and did what he does,” Gatt said.
“There’s not as much trouble [at Bulli] and it seems to suit him but he goes good anywhere you take him.”
“He’ll probably have to go quicker in the final…I think he stuffed around getting across and taking that run so he’ll improve and give us a bit more [next Friday].”
“He’s definitely the biggest motored dog we’ve got, he’s a record breaker and he does special things…nothing surprises me with him.”
Jungle Johnny has now won 22 of 38 starts and over $350,000 in prizemoney
The three heat winners will be joined in the final by Goulburn 450m track record holder Gold Force, Maitland Cup champion Black Myth Wave, Group 1 Vic Peters Classic runner-up Taw Major, 17-time winner Foreign Capital and Million Dollar Chase semi-finalist, Trio Of Clowns.
The $40,000 Group 2 Bulli Gold Cup final will be run on Friday, February 13.
