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  • Monday, 20 May, 2019,
  • by Molly Haines

Longwood Cup: Bees still burning bright

Warragul Greyhound Club Committeeman Mark Johnson is on fire with his greyhound Bees On Fire who defeated Waterloo Cup winner Bear Left in the IGA Longwood Cup on Sunday.

Bees On Fire is now unbeaten on the Coursing Circuit after winning his maiden event at Benalla in April.

“I am very excited about his Longwood Cup win, it is the first feature race I have won, and I am very proud of the dog,” trainer Mark Johnson said.

“It was a tough Course, both dogs wanted to find their own room, but it was a really nice feeling to have come out on top.”

Bees On Fire caught the attention of a number of Coursing regulars during his first Course at Benalla and was able to win over more onlookers after Sunday’s performance.

“Bees On Fire will definitely be a contender this year (Waterloo Cup). Bear Left is a very tough dog and to get in a bumping duel with him and still come out on top shows not only class but real determination,” Sean Lithgow, trainer of Coursing Royalty Gotham Queen said.

Mark Johnson believes the trick to Coursing is having a dog that is able to back it up not just between Courses but after as well.

“Bees On Fire really settled in and relaxed between Courses on Sunday and what was even better was the fact that when he went out for each Course he looked like he knew exactly what he needed to do,” Mark said.

“Now I have confidence that if he does find himself up against good dogs, he is going to be competitive.”

With the Werribee Cup at Longwood on August 11 and the Waterloo Cup on the 24 and 25 August, also at Longwood, Mark is looking at nominating Bees On Fire at Geelong on Friday in hope of turning his Coursing form into Circle track form.

Competing in the Werribee Cup would be a fitting tribute to his owners, the Bees On Fire Syndicate, who are made up of past, present and current players and officials of the Werribee Football Club.

Sunday at Longwood also saw the running of the Bert Clark Memorial which was won by the Jess Fothergill trained Rhomboid.

Sean Lithgow trained Gojek to victory in the Slips To Boxes Challenge which will be run at Shepparton on 30th May.

Lonesome Spring, Stylish Bree, All In Tyler, Kernel Panic, Speckie McKean, Jumbo Bale, Gojek and Why Not Peter (not in box draw order) will all advance to the final at Shepparton.

 

LONGWOOD RESULTS

Molly HainesMolly Haines

Molly Haines

Communication Assistant at Greyhound Racing Victoria with 16 years of experience working with greyhounds in all capacities.

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