Things are hotting up at the Sale Greyhounds, with the Sale Cup (640 metres) only a matter of weeks away, the $75,000-to the-winner Group One event taking place on Saturday, January 3, 2026.
Last Sunday’s card was dominated by local trainers and one of the Australia’s best greyhounds, Tim Zoo, who looks primed for a heavyweight tilt at this year’s cup.
Trained by Jason Thompson, Tim Zoo ($1.60) was a strong winner of the distance championship final, making it consecutive wins over the cup trip.
It didn’t all go the champ’s way in the run, missing the kick, but he quickly found the front and never looked back beating the Mark Delbridge-trained Paw Ike ($5.80) by a length and a half.
There was no near track record run this week, with the strong wins making life tough for the chasers.
Tim Zoo has won 29 races and stakes of $836,000 for an ownership group that contains locals Ken Bailey, Bill and Tristan Lynch.
The other races were dominated by the locals, with Rosedale trainers Sharon and Jeffrey Chignell getting three winners on the 12-race card.
The McMahon family from Giffard West claimed two, as did Pearcedale trainer Mario Briganti.
The night started with a McMahon winner, Dr. Babette ($2.80), breaking it’s maiden at start five in a come-from-behind win over Boisdale-trained first starter, He’s a Collinda ($7.60), who made the running to the shadows of the post.
Briganti got on the board with Extreme Grunt ($2.60), a strong all-the-way winner in race two in a slick time of 24.31, beating Paw Sapphire ($2.80) by four and half lengths.
The first 510 metre race on the program was taken out by Third Time Charm ($1.70) for Beaconsfield Upper trainer, Bryan Sykes, who sat on the speed and used its race smarts to beat Irish Zoe ($8) by just over a length.
There were five heats of grade five over the 435 metres, the first going the way of Heyfield’s Davide Fasoli and Amron Sammy ($3.40), knocking off a McMahon-trained runner, Dr. Benedict (18.60), who led for 430 metres of the 435 metre race but was pipped on the post.
Race five saw the beginning of the Chignell dominance with Thunder Rose ($15.10) timing his run to perfection to beat Top Kade for Kilmany trainer Justin Bowman, pocketing the $2250 first prize for the free for all class.
Judith McMahon had the first two home in race six, with Dr Azure ($3.50) leading all the way, narrowly beating littermate Dr Fanatica ($5.20) who was coming with a huge run.
Bandit Barbie ($2.50) romped home in race six for the Chignell’s, winning by almost seven lengths, giving no other dog a chance.
The last four races were heats of the grade five, the first going the way of Irish Bill ($1.80) for Bunyip trainer Stephen Whyte who was strong in the run home to just beat Dr Patrick ($7.10) by a nose.
Race 10 saw the Chignell kennel’s third win of the night with Mad Hatter Rose ($2.40) successful, beating Dr Hopper ($5.30) for Giffard West’s Jennifer Gill.
The Delbridge kennel rarely heads back to Balliang without a winner, and this wasn’t one of those nights, with Paw Quark ($1.90) fighting off Donkey Fly ($11.30) for Adam Hunter in a crowded finish.
The last race saw the biggest win of the night with Flash of Genius ($1.40) giving Briganti a double winning by seven lengths in a smart time of 24.08, ensuring favourtism for the grade five final this Sunday night.
It finished a great night of racing as the club builds up to the Sale Cup and some great support races, including the James Yeates Rising Star, which is sure to bring some quality dogs to Gippsland.
Racing continues this week at Sale with a Friday night meeting and the traditional Sunday twilight.
