Gippsland champ claims monster bonus

Tuesday, 13 Feb, 2018,
by Andrew Copley

Gippsland champ claims monster bonus

Traralgon and Cranbourne Cup runner-up Monster Fish was formally crowned the 2017/18 Gippsland Carnival Champion last weekend.

The Gippsland Carnival incorporated the 2017 Sale Cup (650m) and Gippsland Carnival Launch (440m), which were both held on Boxing Day, as well as the 2018 Warragul Cup (January 13), Traralgon Cup (January 26) and Cranbourne Cup (February 10).

The highest points scorer throughout the entire Gippsland Carnival, Monster Fish received $14,000, with Jesaulenko ($4,000) and Poke The Bear ($2,000) the other greyhounds to share in the $20,000 bonus prize money.

Monster Fish amassed a total of 66 points throughout the Gippsland Carnival by competing in the following races:

MONSTER FISH’S GIPPSLAND CARNIVAL CAMPAIGN

1^st Gippsland Carnival Launch Heat (16 points)
4^th Gippsland Carnival Launch Final (5)
1^st Traralgon Cup Heat (16)
2^nd Traralgon Cup Final (7)
2^nd Cranbourne Cup Heat (15)
2^nd Cranbourne Cup Final (7)

Jesaulenko was last year crowned the inaugural Gippsland Carnival sprint champion when there was a separate sprint and staying bonus prize money stream.

Trainer Kate Gorman, of Tanjil South which is in the Gippsland heartland, said she was thrilled that Monster Fish was recognised for his consistent performances throughout the 2017/18 carnival.

“He’s very consistent and has a lot of early pace,” Gorman told SEN’s John Rothfield, aka Dr Turf.

“He looks like as he’s starting to mature and is running a stronger 500m, which is what you want to be competitive in the races with the decent prize money. I definitely feel as though he has a group race (win) in him.”

Bred by Benjamin George in the Gippsland town of Nerrena, Monster Fish is owned by the Mikrama Syndicate, which includes Kate’s husband Matthew Gorman, Robert Frendo and former prominent greyhound trainer and bookmaker, Michael Fearnley.

The Cranbourne Cup signalled the conclusion of GRV’s second highly successful Gippsland Carnival, which saw record numbers attend country cups across Victoria’s four greyhound tracks in south east of Victoria.

Andrew Copley

Communications Manager at Greyhound Racing Victoria with 25 years’ experience as a reporter with National Greyhound Form newspaper and GRV. Former Watchdog form analyst. Adopter of celebrity greyhound, Fred Basset. Victorian Greyhound of the Year and Victorian greyhound racing Hall of Fame panel member.