Privacy Policy / Terms & Conditions Tim Zoo wins last year’s Warragul Cup Victoria’s sprinting stars step out this Friday night in heats of the Sportsbet Warragul Cup With 60 nominations for the series we see an encouraging eight heats where only the winners will progress to next Friday’s final There are marquee names in every one which promises a very entertaining two hours – the first heat gets underway at 8.10pm Here are some big names to follow in each heat Tim Zoo (2) wins last year’s Sportsbet Warragul Cup Jason Adams has been involved in greyhound racing for 10 years He spent almost all of that time at Sandown Park before recently transitioning to GRV He’s also a part of the Sky Racing team and regular contributor on RSN Part-owner of promising racehorse Keshi Boom One Word Answer’s Tier 3 Maiden win at Shepparton today was only special for a handful of people and I am lucky to be one of them App available on Google Play & Apple Store Call Investigations Hotline 24 hours a day - 7 days a week The son of 2013 Melbourne Cup winner Black Magic Opal was flawless in his heat running 25.41 in his first start since picking up an injury in the Bendigo Cup final last October.  A win would continue a phenomenal run for 26-year-old trainer Brad Greenough who has won 25 of his last 50 starts a run which has included eight group race finalists and recording his first group 1 winner with Epitomize in the Silver Chief He'll meet stiff opposition in the $57,500 final however where he will run into Cranbourne Cup champion Vincent Bale Group 1 winner Flying Zulu and rising star Field Day all of whom are rated $6.50 chances or shorter The Warragul Cup is one of Victoria's premier provincial cups boasting an honour roll featuring some of the country's greatest chasers including Rocketeer Here's a look at each of Friday night's finalists: Has contested three listed races and reached the group 2 Bendigo Cup final in a career spanning just 15 starts Was very good in his heat – his first start since picking up an injury in the Bendigo Cup in October – registering his third win in five starts over the Warragul 460m trip Is quick early and the inside draw should suit.  Won the Cranbourne Cup (at Sandown) in October before running second in the Silver Bullet and the Shootout a run in which he contested three group races in three starts Has mixed his distances of late and his best racing is probably over more ground – his modest early speed will mean he will need luck at some stage – but with clear running can put a time on the board as evidenced by his fastest heat win.  with an ounce of luck when he makes his run Finished fifth in this race last year after winning his heat in 25.51 Was less than a length off that mark last week showing that he'd lost little over the last 12 months Can ping the lids and should have enough early speed to beat the challengers on either side which will be essential to his winning chances.  but must be at the front when they get to the first turn A group 1 winner and one of the best in the country when at the top of his game Enters his ninth group final with over $821,000 in prize money to his name Has done most of his racing at the elite level around two turns but when he visits the provincials his form is superlative boasting 10 wins from 13 starts though interestingly two of those defeats have been in Country Cups (7th at Warrnambool Arrived from NSW with enormous fanfare but has yet to deliver at the top level Ran third in a heat of the Melbourne Cup then fourth in a heat of the Maturity but most notably was beaten less than a length in an epic edition of The Phoenix Match Race against kennel mate – and 2024 Warragul Cup champion – Tim Zoo.  but with his racing pattern he may just ride cover for the inside brigade Has been racing well on the provincial circuit – he's yet to have a start in town in his 38 race career – including a slick FFA win over 435m at Sale prior to his Cup heat success Can run a sharp first split but his best racing has been over shorter distances and is likely to find one (or more) better in the run to the line.  Not without a lot of trouble underneath him Has missed a place just once in his last 13 starts A winner in top grade over 600m at The Meadows two starts ago it was no surprise to see him find the line nicely in his heat in solid time but can run in the first four at a big price Caused the upset of the night (and blew most punters out of the quaddie) when saluting at 20/1 in his heat defeating two Melbourne Cup finalists (Joey The Jet and Epitomize) in the process Couldn't have done more in that heat – clearly the best run of his career – but this is another step up again Absolutely deserves his place in the final based on his heat run but from out wide in this class is asking too much The verdict: Another high quality edition of the Warragul Cup Zeus Thunderbolt (1) is a clear top pick following the draw his early speed coupled with the red box gives him every opportunity to give his trainer another country cup success Vincent Bale (2) could drop in behind and with a clear run will have the final crack at him Flying Zulu (4) is all class and should get the room to muster while Pass The Buck (3) can figure – if he nails the start Jason Adams and George Farrugia are joined by Anthony Azzopardi who is tackling a monster week for his kennels you will need to listen for George’s special *Selections on the table before markets published See our Race Data page for sectional reports from last week’s meetings GRV regulates the sport of greyhound racing in the state of Victoria under the Racing Act 1958 (Act) which includes setting standards and ensuring they are met by participants Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) Stewards have suspended a Victorian greyhound trainer as a result of an investigation into alleged luring and baiting offences There will be a $10,000 lucky racegoer giveaway at the Warragul Pacing Cup harness racing meeting on the June holiday Monday A generous donor has supplied the cash pool and Warragul Harness Racing Club officials will formulate the exact structure of the giveaway in the next couple of weeks It is likely however to be a draw which matches a lucky patron ticket to a horse in the feature Warragul Pacing Cup The cash prize would be given away in a winner take all scenario shared by ticket holders on the first three placed horses in the race The cash giveaway is a great incentive to draw spectators to Gippsland’s spiritual home of trotting and is sure to draw a big crowd to Logan Park Country Cup race meets in regional Victoria many organised and promoted by volunteer labour showcase the great sport of trotting to local communities and events this year have attracted good crowds and strong racing around Victoria The traditional Warragul fixture should now be among the best of them with this exciting announcement by Kyle Galley Harnesslink.com is the only harness racing website dedicated to covering news and events in the Standardbred Industry world-wide © 2024 Harnesslink | All Rights Reserved | NV © 2024 Harnesslink | All Rights Reserved | NV This is probably not the page you’re looking for Get the latest news to your email inbox FREE Emulating the legendary Tom Brady and Julian Edelman is a tough task in any sporting context Get an all ACCESS PASS to the News and your Digital Edition with an online subscription Get an all access pass to the News and your Digital Edition with an online subscription The son of Aussie Infrared claimed the 2024 Warragul Cup – the first for trainer Jason Thompson – before going to claim the Australian Cup five weeks later he further enhanced the Warragul Cup's reputation as one of the country's premier country cups with an honour roll boasting some of the country's greatest chaser including Rocketeer FIELDS AND FORM WARRAGUL FRIDAY NIGHT Others contesting Friday night's heats include Melbourne Cup finalists Big Energy and a host of the state's premier provincial chasers ensuring another high quality final on Friday 10 January Veteran Big Energy (4) is the obvious favourite given his superlative form over the past three months that saw him claim the Shootout at Sandown Park in a jaw dropping 28.94 the four year old will be making his first start on a provincial track at career start number 48 With a clear run early expect him to be powering home late Orli Bale (2) has raced in three starts in the last two months and while he does not win out of turn (has won two of his last 13) Tattooed (8) flew over the 400m trip last time and will give them something to chase Field Day (7) has been knocking on the door but keeps finding one better Was gallant when narrowly defeated by kennelmate Tim Zoo in the Phoenix Match Race last time out with recent Goulburn Cup winner and Hobart Thousand runner-up Hotel Whisky One (6) drawn on his inner and brilliant provincial chaser Mile A Minute (8) on his outer Perhaps the most even heat with four legitimate winning chances Nangar Jim (1) comes off three straight track record gallops over 510m at Sale and has drawn perfectly Pass The Buck (2) is a high quality greyhound that ran fifth in the final last year Bendigo Cup winner Boracay Storm (3) broke the Sale 435m record last time out and recent group 1 Maturity finalist Paw Vortex (5) has been flying of late.  Defending champion Tim Zoo (6) is likely to start favourite having won his last three starts including a group 3 over 595m at Sandown and The Phoenix match race over 525m at The Meadows Zeus Thunderbolt (4) is the obvious danger boasting an excellent record at the track but is first up after picking up an injury in the Bendigo Cup Augustus Finch (5) has brilliant early speed but may be looking for the line late Flying Zulu (3) wasn't that far away in the Hobart Thousand and is undefeated in both starts this track and distance Sheezel (2) is also two-from-two at the track and has the pace to hold out Flying Zulu early but will need to open up a break to hold him off late Barefoot Zulu (6) has a good record around one turns in NSW and is one to watch first up in Victoria Maturity winner Epitomize (3) has been freshened up for this and may well be better suited to this trip where he boasts a 25.54 best time Melbourne Cup runner up Joey The Jet (4) is making his debut at the track but gives every indication this will suit It shapes as a fascinating battle between the two with whoever leads to the first turn the likely winner and will be a leading chance to win the final Deadly Avenger (7) has elite mid-race speed and is entitled to start favourite but expect a big run from King Owen (6) who will appreciate the empty box inside him and should get a cart across from Sunnyside Jo in box 4 Zipping Hopkins (2) will be doing his best work late Vincent Bale (1) has been flying over more ground recently and with an ounce of luck early should be able to capitalize on the good draw and show his best here Schilaci (6) has been racing without luck of late but is one of the fastest dogs in the country boasting an excellent record at this track and is overs in early markets Both Vincent Bale and Schillaci will need to be on their toes – Mock Fish (3) could be off and gone.  box 6)Quaddie: 123 / 46 / 236 / 34 = $36 for 100% Vincent Bale well and truly performed in the eighth and final heat of the Group 2 Warragul Cup tonight clocking a best of the night 25.38 seconds The Cranbourne Cup winner, jumped fairly from box one in his first start at the track but held his position on the rail while fending off a couple of contenders and defeating Schillaci in the process Vincent Bale came into the Warragul Cup heats a solid winner over the 595 metres at Sandown last start, defeating fellow Warragul Cup contender Zipping Hopkins for Brooke Ennis Zeus Thunderbolt held time honours since his 25.41 second all the way victory over Amron Tiger in the fourth Cup heat In a great touch for the local dogs and trainers of Warragul, Aston Corleone for Graeme Jose and Fernando Gomez for Thomas Currie both made it through to the Group 2 Warragul Cup after surprising victories in their heats The Group 2 Sportsbet Warragul Cup will be run on Friday January 10 at Logan Park Heat 1: Local Aston Corleone (3) held onto win the opening heat of the Warragul Cup in 25.74 seconds over Big Energy (4) Heat 2: Field Day (7) worked through traffic to win in a time of 25.57 seconds over Motion Sensor (2) Heat 3: Pass The Buck (2) wins in a time of 25.55 seconds over Boracay Storm (3) Heat 4: Zeus Thunderbolt (4) lead all the way in a sizzling 25.41 seconds over Amron Tiger (7) Heat 5: Flying Zulu (3) wins in a time of 25.41 seconds over Seagull Rock (7) Heat 6: Fernando Gomez (5) overcomes some big names to win in a time of 25.61 seconds over Short Straw Trev (2) Heat 7: Zipping Hopkins (2) showed pure strength in winning in a time of 25.56 seconds over Hara’s Buddy (1) Heat 8: The best was saved until last; Vincent Bale (1) clocked a best of the night 25.38 seconds over Schillaci (6) He carried decades of experience in training Most famously breeding and owning Hobart Thousand winner and Melbourne Cup finalist Logan Austin marks strongly despite the pressure from Warragul opponent kicking three goals as his Redlegs got home by 22 points Bairnsdale have scored a vital win at the Bairnsdale City Oval over Warragul in their quest for a spot in the Gippsland League finals The Redlegs dominated the match from the start and despite a hiccup in the final term when a strong wind got up that favoured the Gulls Bairnsdale still sit in sixth place on the ladder trailing fifth placed Morwell by two points on the same points as this weeks opponent Wonthaggi by scoring a remarkable 22-point win over Leongatha on the road almost an impossible task in recent seasons Bairnsdale kicked five goals to one in the opening term Logan Austin (18 disposals) providing a target up forward and finishing with three goals for the afternoon Ethan East (28) in his 100th senior game was again outstanding in ruck feeding the Redlegs on ball brigade as well as accumulating more possessions than every other Warragul player except Jack Lewsey (29) Tom Blenheim (23) and Tyran Rees (27) all racked up possessions at will the Redlegs accumulating an impressive 100 more than their opponent with their efficiency impressing the coaching panel The Bairnsdale goal kicking radar was out of kilt in the third quarter as they kicked one goal and a disappointing six behinds but with a lead of 35 points they still looked comfortably helping the visitors mount a spirited comeback playing his best game for the club since joining from the amateurs the experienced Bairnsdale players insured Warragul never got close enough to really threaten Bairnsdale Football Netball Club football manager was delighted with the win and with the form of his side “That’s as good as we have played for a while our leaders stood up and our onballers got plenty of it who had a game to remember in his 100th,” McCarrey said Bairnsdale escaped without any injury concerns the only minor hiccup being Ricky Tatnell escaping with two reprimands from the major review panel The first one for his part in an incident that saw Warragul coach Jed Lamb taken to hospital with a shoulder injury that will require surgery while the Gulls were well represented by Isaac Wallace Bairnsdale face a massive assignment this week taking on Wonthaggi at their fortress but McCarrey is confident Bairnsdale can get the job done but we will go down there full of confidence even though they will be close to full strength with Ryan Sparkes returning from Collingwood duty,” McCarrey said © 2024 James Yeates | All Rights Reserved Jason and George threw in a bit of NFL and cricket chat after George’s continued multi success Sir John Henry accuses Jason of throwing vinegar today after he struggles with the temperature of the studios Western Districts Derby Final at Ballarat is run tonight and the field has opened up following the scratching of Zeus Thunderbolt. Learn a bit more about Western Districts Derby contender Short Straw Trev.  Jason and George NEEDED to point out Hotel Whisky One’s run as The Meadows Performance Of The Evening. It’s worth a look at the RACE DATA out of the meeting Hotel Whiksy One dominates from box six at The Meadows Tomorrow night will see the running of the Gold Bullion with a very strong Victorian representatives and both struggle to move past the raw talent of Vincent Bale Jase labelled the Gold Cup as one of the better staying races since the Bold Trease and Topgun Stayers The Gold Cup also includes one of George’s dogs in Pass Mark Big statement from George around Valpolicella Launching Pad chat around the article Jase put together this morning What are your favourite sounds of the sport Message us on Facebook or Instagram to be a part of the conversation Star WA sprinter won’t take part in the series Baw Baw Shire Council’s Warragul Leisure Centre stadium expansion has been celebrated with an official opening yesterday The stadium expansion is one of Council’s largest ever recreational projects to date The Council committed $6.8 million towards the project in addition to a $6 million contribution from the Victorian Government’s Community Sports Infrastructure Stimulus Program Harriet Shing joined Baw Baw Shire Councillors Council officers and community members for yesterday’s opening Ms Shing said she was proud of the State Government’s investment into the project “We are really proud to have partnered with Council by funding $6 million to bring this stadium expansion to life – our record investment in community and sporting facilities like this across the region has helped clubs and teams to thrive and encouraged people of all ages and abilities to get active and connect with their communities,” she said “This major project has been long-awaited by our community following a sod-turning in February 2023 to mark the start of construction,” said Mayor “I am proud that between Council and the State Government we can provide these new furthering opportunities for our local kids and families to take part in sport and get active Information and Events for Local Councils throughout Australia Contact us: newsdesk@insidelocalgovernment.com.au Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon The best of Melbourne straight to your inbox We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy Melbourne without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Melbourne Time Out Melbourne never writes starred restaurant and bar reviews from hosted experiences – Time Out covers restaurant and bar bills, and anonymously reviews, so that readers can trust our critique. Find out more here On a weekend stay in West Gippsland you’re bound to hear about Messmates Dining at least a dozen times I’ve booked a table at the smart new Warragul restaurant well in advance of a trip having heard of its stellar reputation back home in Melbourne an array of locals – the diversity of which spans a gardener an independent brewer and a shop owner – are each quick to direct me to Messmates just in case I’ve forgotten to include it in my itinerary this is a dining experience that’s caused a bit of a stir in the area Feeling dangerously close to sleep after a couple’s Turkish hammam and massage experience over at Brandy Creek Day Spa (any more bliss and we risk falling into a narcotic stupor) my partner and I swan into Messmates’ cosy space glad to find our table nestled at the back of the restaurant bottles line the walls and the entire place simmers with wine bar sophistication An open prep table outside the kitchen allows us to watch the chef perform the finishing touches on each stunning yet simple dish But what even is a ‘messmate’ anyway Though perhaps it’s common knowledge for Aussie-born folks (this writer hails from Scotland) It’s the first question I ask our host who runs the sleek venue alongside his partner Jess his sister Jodie and Jodie’s partner Michael They’re a tight-knit family and business quartet bringing some serious hospo expertise to the town.  is a species of tree that’s endemic to southeastern Australia It’s commonly known as messmate stringybark or Tasmanian oak It makes sense the restaurant is named after its local plant specimens too: a celebration of Gippsland’s produce so much so that it’s often referred to as the ‘food bowl of Australia’ As we sip on a glass of creamy sparkling each a perusal of the menu suggests inspiration from European cuisine There’s chicken liver parfait with pear jelly and sourdough crackers; pumpkin and brown butter gnocchi with oregano and pecorino; cured pork ‘noix de jambon’ with fennel grissini; and a smattering of other dishes all categorised as either snacks Nothing on the short menu looks over the top but all is appealing; I get the sense that this will be a kitchen that allows ingredients to taste of what they are we love the house-made pickled vegetables to eat alongside our cultured butter and bread.   Burrata with fennel and fermented beans is one of the specials and it’s yet another impressive example of fresh food that buzzes with aliveness Many food commentators decided to declare burrata as ‘cancelled’ last year on account of its predictability and ubiquitous presence across many menus all at once But Messmates’ wildly flavourful rendition is proof that burrata can be a showstopper in the right hands – especially when paired with a wine list that celebrates cult hit winemakers from the region We’re told in thirst-quenching detail about the pinot noir from William Downie and the remarkable chardonnay from Patrick Sullivan wonderful commentary to listen to as we mop up the delicious creamy mess and sip on the fruits of each producer’s labour The third dish we share is tortellini in a shallow chicken broth each handmade pasta parcel filled with a punchy mix of mortadella and cheese It’s gorgeous – a soupy distillation of smoke If this is what traditional tortellini in brodo from Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region tastes like for the final dish of our meal is the highlight.  It’s a half-roast chook dressed generously with a piquant red Gascony butter Served alongside the crushed and buttered potatoes we’ve chosen as our side it’s an ultra-satisfying dish to end the night on.  Returning to Messmates could and would be a different experience in the future The restaurant’s wine collection will shift and grow and there are cocktails we’d love to try on our next visit But that’s what makes Messmates such an important addition to the Gippsland community It’s a reflection of a food culture that’s all about connection over time – to land local producer networks and the changing of seasons Thanks for subscribing! 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