Friday night’s Geelong Gold Cup delivered one of the season’s feel good story, with the Michelle Mallia-trained Matt Loch winning his home town Cup in 29.651.
Favourite Vincent Bale was a mile back in the field but stormed home to get second, but despite tiring late, Matt Loch claimed triumph from box six, his biggest win since last year’s Warrnambool Cup success.
It was the greyhound’s 50th career start and his 26th career win, and the $50,000 first prize cheque took his career earnings beyond $230,000.
And it added to the storyline which involves owners Matt Field and Lachlan Barsby, gifted part ownership in the greyhound by Mallia when the dog was a pup.
Barsby, a 10-year-old Barwon Heads student who suffers from cystic fybrosis, has developed a special relationship with Matt Loch, who he visits once a month at Mallia’s farm and hopes to one day own as a family pet.
His co-owner Field is perhaps even more passionate about greyhound racing. He suffers from spina bifida, but that’s never stopped him from following Matt Loch wherever he goes.
