Explicit takes top prize on fun-filled night at Shepparton Cup greyhound races

Ultimately, pre-race favourite Explicit ($1.90) continued a career trajectory that could take it virtually anywhere with its 14th win from 18 starts.

Explicit zipped around the 450m track in 24.655 seconds, clearing the post by 18 hundredths of a second ahead of the Thomas Dailly-trained Smooth Plane, with fellow Dailly entrant Shima Shadow rounding out the podium.

Jason Thompson again found himself in the winner’s circle, extending his credentials at the trainer table with a fifth Shepparton Cup success.

Shepparton Greyhound Racing Club general manager Carl McGrath hailed the night’s festivities.

“It was a great crowd and we were rapt in the way it went off,” McGrath said.

“The singer and the food were great and the sporting clubs who came down have told us what a fantastic night they’ve had.

“It was just a great night; the hardest part was getting them out again.”

Of course, the on-track action delivered plenty of its own entertainment.

Successes were not limited to just trainers with national reputations, either.

“The main feature races especially had some of the best dogs in Australia; obviously, the up-and-coming Explicit is probably one of the two or three best dogs right now,” McGrath said.

“We had a local family from Tallygaroopna get a double, winning the last two races of the night.

“I think one paid about $29 and the other was around $12, so some big dividends.

“Other than the three feature races, there were only two other races not won by locals, so it was a good strong hand from our contingent.”

While the club awards night shapes as the next major event within the Shepparton greyhound sphere, observers’ eyes now turn to the highly lucrative Pink Diamond in June.

“Pink Diamond is a massive race on the calendar for all of Victoria,” McGrath said.

“It's the biggest in regional Victoria by some way and there'll be more than half-a-million dollars in prizemoney on the night.”