Britton Eyes Holiday Bonus in Garrards Gold Cup

JEFF Britton and his partner Angela Langton will take a break from their week-long holiday on the Sunshine Coast to take on the Group 3 Garrards Gold Cup (710m) at Albion Park on Thursday night.

Jeff and Angela have grand campaigner Mepunga Ruby in the opening heat and Korda in the second and both are making their debuts at Albion Park.

FIELDS AND FORM ALBION PARK THURSDAY NIGHT

Both Cup hopes are Group 1 performers.

“Jeff and I are having a week holiday,” said Angela. “We try to get a week in at least a couple of times a year.

“Swimming, relaxing, dining … all the things everyone does on holidays.”

Mepunga Ruby and Korda fly in to Brisbane tonight (Wednesday).

“We are just hoping they get into the first four in the heats and get through to the final next week,” said Angela.

The Gold Cup is worth $100,000 to the winner.

Mepunga Ruby (Fernando Bale-Mepunga Rosie) is already the winner of the G1 Super Stayers and has won, been placed or a finalist in nine Group 1 races.

Mepunga Ruby has held off Zipping Kansas (who missed the start) in Heat 1 of the Wests Group Association Cup at Wentworth Park Greyhounds tonight in 41.84, with Stanley Road and Paris And Rome also making the G1 final next week.

Full Results: https://t.co/0aKrcaZhxo#thedogs pic.twitter.com/u2mY1NGham

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) April 2, 2022

Korda (Mepunga Blazer-Mepunga Molly) is a very promising young dog which was third in the G1 Bold Trease.

“Mepunga Ruby is fantastic,” said Angela.

“But we have been struggling to get starts for the stayers. She had a 500 metre trial at The Meadows last week and flew.

“Korda is only young but he has stepped up to distance racing very well.”

Both dogs will head back to Melbourne on Friday.

“It is very humid up here in Queensland and if they make the final, it will be better for them to be at home in air conditioning in their own kennel,” said Angela.

Mepunga Ruby comes up against Stagger Out Lee, the recent winner of the G1 Bold Trease for Jack Strutt, as well as Mick Hardman's promising Zipping Whiskey and local hopes She's Precocious and Oh Oh Range.

Korda meets the in-form Ritza Piper from NSW a last-start winner of the G2 Summer Distance Plate at Wentworth Park last Saturday night.

Also in the race is Queensland star Days Of Thunder, last start Listed winner Pocket Money and WA visitor Superman Keeping, now in the Selena Zammit kennel.