Victorian Group 1 champion descends on North Queensland

By Jordan Gerrans

It is not every day a Victorian Group 1 champion greyhound fronts up at Townsville and Mepunga Shine has drawn the right alley to make his presence felt in North Queensland.

Mepunga Shine and fellow Jeffrey Britton Townsville Cup hopeful Mackinaw Peach will both don the red silks in their heats on Friday evening in a bid to qualify for the $112,525 Final in seven days’ time.

The Britton runners are litter mates from a Shima Shine and Mepunga Molly mating.

Mepunga Shine is not the only dog with a victory at the highest level entered for Friday’s heats as Travis Elson’s Bear’s Bullet is also an Ipswich Cup champion.

Mepunga Shine’s Group 1 triumph came in the Silver Chief at The Meadows in December of last year.

The son of Shima Shine has also been placed at the elite level on two other occasions as well – The Temlee at The Meadows earlier this year and the Perth Cup across the Nullarbor.

Leading greyhound man Britton has never taken a dog from his Anakie base north to Townsville before.

And, while the prize money is flash in next Friday’s decider, the trip is about seeing as much of Australia as it is greyhound racing.

“For myself, you like to go somewhere different,” Britton said.

“Dogs can take you around Australia.

“I saw the prize money and I thought I would like to go up and see Townsville as well race the dogs.

“These dogs have to race every week and it is hard racing down here where we are every week.

“Sometimes you like to change things up for them a little bit and here you are racing for $75,000.”

Mepunga Shine commences from the one in the second last of the seven quality-stacked fields from Townsville on Friday night while kennel mate Mackinaw Peach will be in the final heat.

The Britton Cup hopefuls have already trialled at the Showgrounds complex through the help of Townsville Greyhound Racing Club President Gary Heath.

Britton’s partner Angela Langton has a connection with the club boss from a couple of decades ago.

The leading Victorian trainer praised Heath’s efforts to help his kennel – and the many other visitors to Townsville – settle in and therefore have a stronger field for the upcoming Group 2 Cup.

“He has helped us out with anything we need,” Britton said.

“He has been terrific.”

Britton jokes that it has been a long time since Mepunga Shine’s name was up in lights by winning the age-restricted Group 1 race against his peers.

He went 29.76 seconds over 525 metres in the Silver Chief at The Meadows and has gone as quick as 29.43 seconds at Sandown Park.

“He has been going well but he needs to rely on leading,” the top dog man said.

“He was flying early at his last start at Sandown.

“We have taken a bit of a chance bringing him to Townsville. We just want to make Finals so hopefully we can do that.”

Black bitch Mackinaw Peach does not have the lofty resume as her litter mate but the veteran conditioner believes she also has strong claims in the northern adventure.

Mackinaw Peach qualified for the Group 1 Sapphire Crown Final over 515 metres at Sandown Park in May of this year before being scratched ahead of the Final.

“She has got pace,” he said.

“She used to jump once in 10 starts but now she is getting a little bit more consistent in the jumping part of it.

“I wanted to take these two dogs because of the bend start at Townsville, hopefully they can get out and lead and get some sort of chance at it.

“She has made some pretty good Finals that bitch and she has beaten Mackenna. She has got a lot more consistent since then with her box manners.”

The bookmakers have the two Britton runners well in the market for their first NQ hit-out, Mepunga Shine is $1.55 in his heat with $2.60 being offered for Mackinaw Peach.