Last year’s Warrnambool Cup winner Matt Loch has provided more than just money for 10-year-old, Lachlan Barsby, he has given freedom and opportunity.
Co-owned, bred and trained in Avalon by Michelle Mallia, money won by Matt Loch is gifted to and named after two of the sport’s biggest fans in Barsby, who has Cerebral Palsy and Matthew Fields who has Spina Bifida.
“I get so much enjoyment watching the joy Matt Loch brings to Lochie and Matt – that’s why I have given them shares in dogs and I would do it again in a heartbeat,” Michelle Mallia said.
Matt Loch is a winner of 26 races from 50 starts and has banked more than $230,000 in prize money which include victories in the 2024 Warrnambool Cup and more recently the 2025 Geelong Cup.
“The last sum of money I gave Lochie’s family thanks to Matt Loch allowed them to purchase a wheelchair that can be used on the beach,” Mallia said.
“Money has also gone to additional interstate physio for Lochie. It makes me so happy to see this money make a different to Lochie and his family.”
Heading into the Geelong Cup, Lochie was one of the faces of the Victorian Greyhound Racing Industries Good Friday Appeal.
The sports efforts have raised more than $367,000 over the years, with more than $56,000 the donation for 2025.
The Geelong Cup series was a special one for Mallia, not because of the money or the fact it was her local Cup. Rather the photos and memories that came from that night.
“I struggle to look back at the photos from the Geelong Cup without tears. I see little Lochie with his fist in the air cheering and Matt Loch by his side and it brings me so much joy.”
“If I am having a rough day, I will bring that photo up and remember how much happiness the dogs can bring.”
Matt Loch will be back at Warrnambool tonight to defend his Warrnambool Cup title and aim for a Western Districts domination.
He is jumping from box seven in race eight (Warrnambool Cup heat seven) and will jump at 7.31pm.
Matt Loch has won five races from eight starts over the track and distance and can make any box a winner.
Mallia will also line up Horsham Cup winner Fernando Phil in opening Warrnambool Cup heat (race two, box five).
“I think we have him right now. I trialled Fernando Phil and Matt Loch separately over 400 at Geelong and they went exactly the same (22.33 seconds),” Mallia said.
“I like him drawn in the middle of the track too.”
She’s Wired (race six, box four) rounds out Mallia’s contenders in the Warrnambool Cup heats and finds herself up against several talents including Vincent Bale.
“She is a good box dog and can run time, but this is a tough heat.”
