This Saturday night one of district racing’s grandest prizes will be awarded as the the 2025 Group Two Shepparton Cup takes place at Shepparton Greyhound Racing Club.
The 2024 running was littered with talk of one name — Jason Thompson, the legendary greyhound trainer who had fielded three entrants as he sought a sweep of Victoria’s major country cups.
Shepparton’s field proved no match for the might of Thompson’s Explicit that night, who had torn up the heats during the week en route to an eventual course record run in the cup, affirming his pre-race favouritism.
Explicit’s dazzling 24.655-second dash ignited the track and delivered the greyhound equivalent of Bart Cummings his fifth Shepparton success.
However, there will be none of his fingerprints on this year’s field as a new batch of contenders chase fame — not to mention a cool $87,000 payday.
The Harley Whelan-trained Lakeview Emily has been installed as the favourite in the crowning race nine on Saturday’s card, drawing box one after electrifying Monday night’s heats with a meet-best time of 24.89 seconds.
It’s hard to argue, having taken the post on this same track a month earlier with a near-identical time and boasting five wins from eight box one starts.
Off the track, the entertainment is aimed at all ages with movie screenings and jumping castles for the kids, while AFL/VFL icon Warwick Capper makes a marquee appearance as a special guest of the club.
Capper comes with a highly meaningful purpose, as racing club president Carl McGrath explains.
“Warwick will be down doing a Kick for Kids,” McGrath said.
“We have a competition where they’ll pull out a few people who register and, if they can kick the footy into a bin, they’ll get $250.
“That amount will be matched by him to go towards the Royal Children’s Hospital as well, so hopefully we make some good money for the kids.
“We’ll be auctioning a framed Capper picture through Jack Hicks with all the proceeds going to the hospital as well.”
The night will have a repeat of last year’s competition where a cash prize is on offer for random participants who have the number four dog assigned to them in the later races.
Overall, it’s a sunny picture painted among ideal weather forecasts from the club’s perspective.
“It should be a super day from start to finish,” McGrath said.
“We’ve got our community challenge on where eight local clubs will have dogs assigned in a race and they’ll have a chance to win $5000.
“Last year was a great cup running and I expect this year to be bigger and better again.
“The weather looks great for us as well, so it should be a perfect night.”
Entry to the event is free, with the first race slated for a 6.22pm jump before the cup final runs at 9.08pm.
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