Mepunga Isla and Vivatar have a shot at a $10,000 bonus after taking out the Geelong Oaks and Derby Finals respectively last night.
In a brand new initiative, the Geelong GRC has offered up the bonus to any greyhound that can win the club’s Oaks or Derby and then go on to take out the Geelong Gold Cup in the same year.
Mepunga Isla, trained by Bushfield by Adam Richardson, made it six wins from 10 career starts when taking out the Oaks in a Best of Night 25.45sec. The field included multiple group winner, Circle Of Dreams.
“This is the biggest thrill of my career along with winning the Vic Breeders Maiden with Mepunga Isla,” Richardson said.
“I’ve been contemplating when to go to the city with her but with this $10,000 bonus on offer I’ll need to speak to (owner) Barry (Smith) and work out whether we enter her for the Geelong Cup heats instead.”
The Angela Langton-trained Vivatar was the fastest heat winner of the Derby, and he franked that form with a convincing win in last night’s final over a line-up that featured decorated pair Fearless and Razor’s Edge.
The Geelong Cup heats will be run next Friday, with the $47,000 to-the-winner final on October 25.
