Oh what a night: The Group Two Shepparton Cup was run and won on Saturday night in front of a bumper crowd at Shepparton Greyhound Racing Club.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Emerging trainer Jake Loverso was in disbelief as his star chaser Lektra Heckler took out the $74,335 Group Two CKH Painting Shepparton Cup (450m) on Saturday night.
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This was 27-year-old Loverso’s first runner in a Group final and it was a night he will never forget as Lektra Heckler blitzed a star-studded line-up from the moment the lids opened, leading all the way in 24.952sec.
Lektra Heckler is unbeaten in eight starts for Loverso, who leveraged on his close relationship with breeder-owner Phil Lenehan to get hold of the rising star.
“I’ve got to hand it to Phil. I’ve known him for a few years now and late last year I saw Lektra Heckler had injured himself, so I asked Phil if I could train him,” Loverso said.
“Phil was training him at the time, but he backed me in and we haven’t looked back. Not only is Phil a champion breeder, but he’s one of the best owners. He never interferes and just let’s me do what I do.
“I called him straight after the race tonight and he was ecstatic. He always knew this was a quick dog and it was just a matter of keeping him injury-free.”
Happy days: Shepparton Cup winner Lektra Heckler and trainer Jake Loverso.
Photo by
GRV
Loverso hinted he’d likely continue on the country cups circuit with Lektra Heckler, with the Ballarat and Warrnambool cups taking place in the coming weeks.
“I’d love to win the Warrnambool Cup for Phil, given that’s his home town,” he said.
Good win: Trainer Scott Stefanos with race three winner Kintsugi.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Gun talent: Trainer Darren Petersen with race four winner Whisky Nip and Arhoa Hemmingway.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Battling it out: It was a tight battle in race four.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Plenty of smiles: Race five winner Great Guy is flanked by AFL legend Anthony Koutoufides, Christine Maskall, Edward Wertiechowski, Robert Neocleous and Matthew Buyers.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Fun night out: Brittany Cooney with two-year-old son Parker Cooney and partner Jake Cooney.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Hot rod: Race six winner, Bobby Axelrod, trained by Jessica Hopkins.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Loverso gave a glimpse into his cup winning star.
“He’s quiet at home, except on race day. He’s a brilliant box dog and he gets white line fever like his owner,” he said with a laugh.
The Pearcedale trainer acknowledged Tom Dailly for “giving me a start” in greyhound racing, and David Knocker, father of Loverso’s partner Kayla Cottrell, who trained the runner-up in last year’s Shepparton Cup, Robbie Rotten.
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