It was country cup racing at its absolute finest tonight, which set up a ridiculously good Group 2 CKH Painting Shepparton Cup final this Saturday.

And the box draw hasn’t made the outcome clear.

2026 CKH PAINTING SHEPPARTON CUP
1. Barooga Jim (Brooke Ennis)
2. Dewana Star (Brendan Dewan)
3. Dramatical (Jason Thompson)
4. Off The Chart (Peter Presutto)
5. Dapper Chap (Ned McDonald)
6. Canya Excite Me (Anthony Azzopardi)
7. Gold Force (Denice Warren)
8. Robinson (Brooke Ennis)

9. Highly Connected (Dylan Sharp)
10. Solicit (David Geall)

SHEPPARTON CUP NIGHT – EVENT INFORMATION

Canya Excite Me was the fastest of the four heat winners, with all of them breaking the 25 second barrier. Speed was incredibly prominent, just a length separated the first and second splits of the three winners who led their heats. Gold Force was the only greyhound to win from off the speed.

The opening heat saw the first big stage conversion for Canya Excite Me (4), who absolutely flew out to lead and win in fast time. Dapper Chap (7) was runner-up with Perth Cup winning trainer Ned McDonald through to another feature race final.

Dewana Star (1) was absolutely faultless in the second heat, he led and won easily. Sportsbet Australian Cup winner Dramatical (3) found drama in transit but still did enough to scrape into the final.

Expectation was firmly on the Sportsbet Ballarat Cup winner in Off The Chart (5) as the shortest priced favourite of the night and he didn’t let us down, in traditional style burnt off the field early. Robinson (5) was good in defeat, but for the third start in a row wasn’t able to reel in Off The Chart.

The only heat winner to not lead their heat was the powerhouse in Gold Force (5). He was quickly allowed to get to a favourable position and made full use of it, hooked wide and hit top gear in typical Gold Force style. Barooga Jim (2) narrowly claimed 2nd to also progress.

Fastest to slowest:
Canya Excite Me, 24.832 (6.38, 11.01)
Gold Force, 24.843 (6.70)
Dewana Star, 24.862 (6.45, 11.07)
Off The Chart, 24.993 (6.44, 11.05)
Robinson, 25.079 (6.58)
Dramatical, 25.140 (6.78)
Barooga Jim, 25.181 (6.79)
Dapper Chap, 25.534 (6.59)