Peter Galo continued a proud family tradition for trainer Garry Selkrig with a dominant all-the-way victory in the Group 2 CKH Painting Shepparton Cup Final (450m) on Saturday night.
Peter Galo was bred to celebrate country cup glory, with his sire, the underutilised Peter Rocket, winning the Horsham Cup in 2013, while his mother Flossy is a litter sister to Garry Selkrig’s former iron dog Stagger, which won an incredible 64 of his 137 starts, highlighted by the 2012 Warragul Cup.
Selkrig also won the Warragul Cup in 2016 with Peter Galo’s half-brother To The Galo’s, a son of El Galo and Flossy.
It was a case of third time lucky for Peter Galo at Group level, after finishing unplaced in last month’s Bendigo Cup and the 2017 Healesville Cup.
“I am very excited. Actually, I am over the moon with him tonight,” Selkrig said.
“It was a great field but after three tries at a country cup he has got there.
“I brought him here tonight thinking he would win. He drew out wide, which is where he needs to be. He is an absolute champion!
“I knew from early on how good he would be because he has ability plus. But not only ability, he is a beautiful kennel dog and just does everything right.”
Peter Galo qualified for the $47,000 to-the-winner Shepparton Cup with a 25.20sec heat victory from box six, with Michelle Mallia-Magri’s track specialist Zoom Out setting the qualifying standard with a 25.12sec effort, her seventh win from as many visits to Shepparton.
Zoom Out started $2.20 favourite from box eight in the final, while Peter Galo was the $5.30 second elect after again drawing six.
Peter Galo began well to quickly head off Elevated ($7.40) and favourite Zoom Out and he then broke clear turning for home and raced away for a commanding 4.37 length victory over Elevated in 25.16sec, with Extra Gear ($16.10) finishing third.
Peter Galo’s breakthrough at Group level enhanced his imposing record to 17 from 28, while he’s won four of his last five, with the defeat coming in the Bendigo Cup.
Earlier on Cup night, there were thrilling finishes to the two support feature events.
Sharp Diamond ($6.30), trained by Wayne Vassallo, prevailed in a blanket five-way finish to the Byers Electrical Cup Night Stayers over 650m, defeating fancied pair Billy’s Bake ($2.20) and Ebby Ripper ($4.30) in 37.68sec, with only .73 separating the first five across the line.
Dual Group 1 winners Raw Ability ($2.40) and Up Hill Jill ($2.80) dominated betting on the Ron Nestor Memorial over 450m, with Anthony Azzopardi’s Raw Ability stamping his return from three months on the sidelines with a gutsy 25.30sec victory.
Peter Galo cruises to victory by four lengths in the Shepparton Cup.
Peter Galo surrounded by connections and officials after his first group win.
Sharp Diamond (1) takes out the Cup Night Stayers from Billy’s Bake (6) and Ebby Ripper (5).
Raw Ability (8) on his way to winning the Ron Nestor Memorial from Waleonjon (1) and Up Hill Jill (6). Photos by Clint Anderson.
