23/06/2026
LOCALS DOMINANT, CUP THIS FRIDAY
THE RUN HOME
WITH PETER CARTER
Heats were held last Friday for the 2026 Horsham Cup, inclement weather made racing tough and over the four heats the strong greyhounds really stood above the rest. Organised Crime took time honours for trainer Justin Nolan running an astonishing 26:76sec on a rain affected track, Dramatical winner of over $400,000 and a winner at Group One level was just as impressive bouncing from the red alley to run 26:94sec on a heavily rain effected track, other heat winners Zelda Covilha (27:59sec) and Dustin (27:06sec) rounded out the four heat winners. The $40,000 to the winner final is conducted this Friday evening at approximately 6:15pm with Dramatical installed a $2.00fav, just ahead of Organised Crime at $3.00, we would love to see as many people as possible turn out and as always entry is free.
Local trainers were successful over the period with countless winners spread across individual trainers. Garry George (Beulah) and Andrea Gurry (Nhill) led the way both training three winners, with George also running second in the Pink Diamond Group Listed Final at Bendigo with Disparage. The Fullerton team (Red Cliffs) also led in multiple winners as did Bob Taylor (Warracknabeal) heading over the border to Mount Gambier and Paul Hammerstein tasted success with his new kennel star Exactly Like Dad who also finished runner-up in the Victorian Oaks Coursing event.
Gurry kicked the period off with victory at Warrnambool with Paw Harkonnen bouncing straight to the front and simply obliterating his competition winning by an ever increasing seven lengths in a flying 22:01sec. Gurry then returned to Warrnambool last Thursday training a winning double, Genesis Bale returned to the winners circle for the first time since January due to a serious back muscle injury, Genesis marked his comeback in fine style leading all the way in a nice 22:19sec run. Paw Harkonnen then made it four wins from his last five starts, beginning midfield from the wide draw Harkonnen was forced wide and had to work extremely hard to cross and lead but once he did the race was over and he cruised home in 22:27sec.
Team Fullerton enjoyed success with So You Assume and Nosey Parker both at Horsham. So You Assume made it two on the bounce with a last to first victory over the 485 metre journey, entering the corner near last So You Assume railed perfectly to find himself in front on turning for home and once in front he wasn’t for catching. Nosey Parker then contested a heat of the Cardross Memorial and was simply a class above, slow away Parker mustered up quickly and pushed through strongly railing extremely hard to turn for home with a break on the field that was ever increasing in the run to the line.
Garry George has been clocking the miles up between Warrnambool, Bendigo and Horsham with great reward, new kennel star Disparage progressed through the Group Listed Pink Diamond Maiden Series winning his heat and semi finals in blistering times of 23:86sec and 23:75sec respectively on his way to losing no admirers when running a gutsy second in the final. George then headed to Warrnambool and like Gurry led in a winning double with Air Speed stepping out first from the inside draw he was able to muster up quickly and assume control of the race by the first corner and turn for home with a nice break on the field going home a three length winner in 25:48sec. It was then Disparage who stepped out and backed up his Bendigo form, away fairly he mustered quickly to take the lead well before the first corner and he was simply brilliant cruising to victory in a best of the night 25:19sec run. George moved onto Horsham the following day and struck again in the first on the card when Initial Consult pinged the lids and led all the way in 23:52sec.
Paul Hammerstein’s new kennel star Exactly Like Dad fresh from running second in the Victorian Oaks Coursing struck on the circle again to make it four wins form her fist five starts, the white chaser put in a striking run when she swept down the outside grabbing the early leaders to pull away and cruise to victory by three lengths in 23:41sec in what was an impressive effort.
Bob Taylor and his team have made the trip over the border to Mount Gambier tasting success twice with Franky’s Cash who ran 17:94 over the 305-metre trip and Nulla Danny Boy who stepped out over the 400 meters and was too good for them in 23:51sec.
