By Peter Quilty
The 2023 Group 2 Sportsbet Bendigo Cup series (425m) is held in October each year. The most recent edition of the Bendigo Cup was won by Alpha Zulu, a greyhound trained by Jason Thompson and part-owned by AFL great Jonathan Brown.
HISTORY
First run in 1957, the Bendigo Cup has been won by a pantheon of stars including all-time great Fernando Bale (2015) and the only dual winner, Sweet Mandy (1961-62).
Champion trainer Jason Thompson has won the Bendigo Cup on five occasions – Typhoon Sammy (2022), Aston Bolero (2016), Ronan Izmir (2013), Peggy May (2012) and El Galo (2008).
The most recent Bendigo Cup was held in 2022 when won by Typhoon Sammy, who also collected a $50,000 bonus for ‘storming’ to three country cups in a calendar year.
HONOUR ROLL
| YEAR | WINNER | TRAINER | TIME | Distance |
| 2023 | Alpha Zulu | Jason Thompson | 23.49sec | 425m |
| 2022 | Typhoon Sammy | Jason Thompson | 23.53sec | 425m |
| 2021 | Paua Of Buddy | Steven White | 23.29sec | 425m |
| 2020 | Yozo Bale | Correy Grenfell | 23.88sec | 425m |
| 2019 | Crimson Vixen | Norman McCullagh | 23.79sec | 425m |
| 2018 | Vanderworp (WA) | Christopher Halse | 23.62sec | 425m |
| 2017 | Landmark | Robert Britton | 23.70sec | 425m |
| 2016 | Aston Bolero | Jason Thompson | 23.72sec | 425m |
| 2015 | Fernando Bale | Andrea Dailly | 23.40sec | 425m |
| 2014 (Jul) | Warrior King | Brooke Ennis | 23.76sec | 425m |
| 2014 (Apr) | Paw Licking | Kelvyn Greenough | 23.70sec | 425m |
| 2013 | Ronan Izmir | Jason Thompson | 23.62sec | 425m |
| 2012 | Peggy May | Jason Thompson | 23.68sec | 425m |
| 2011 | Enry Walt | Gary Ennis | 24.21sec | 430m |
| 2010 | Latifi Jiam | Ronald Giles | 23.98sec | 430m |
| 2009 | Taipan Bale | Graeme Bate | 23.73sec | 430m |
| 2008 | El Galo | Jason Thompson | 23.77sec | 430m |
| 2007 | Airbourne Bale | Robert Britton | 23.87sec | 430m |
| 2006 | Dragway Flex | Graeme Bate | 23.83sec | 430m |
| 2005 | Smack Wallop | Tina Womann | 24.41sec | 430m |
| 2004 | Brumby Lad | John Bushell | 24.17sec | 430m |
| 2003 | Puzzle Prize | Peter Giles | 24.20sec | 430m |
| 2002 | Hey Brother | Robert Britton | 24.31sec | 430m |
| 2001 | Renzo Bale | Thomas Dailly | 31.44sec | 545m |
| 2000 | Whitten’s Legend | Thomas Dailly | 24.20sec | 430m |
| 1999 | Tom’s Legacy | Colin Fawcett | 24.14sec | 430m |
| 1998 | Lansley Bale | Graeme Bate | 24.03sec | 430m |
| 1997 | Sarah’s Deano | Marion Siakew | 24.21sec | 430m |
| 1996 | True Type | Alan Inglis | 24.26sec | 430m |
| 1995 | *** Not Held *** | |||
| 1994 | Thorgil Tex | George Willis | 24.14sec | 430m |
| 1993 | Tivoli Man | Robert Douglas | 24.19sec | 430m |
| 1992 | Belmont | Rex Norris | 24.61sec | 430m |
| 1991 | He’s Jake | George Blythe | 24.64sec | 430m |
| 1990 | Hard Rain | Kenneth Brown | 24.70sec | 430m |
| 1989 | Mets Man | John Tomblin | 24.75sec | 430m |
| 1988 | Naphlio | |||
| 1987 | Buka Sunset | |||
| 1986 | Stamp Of Learod | |||
| 1985 | Newstone Flyer | |||
| 1984 | Bronze Wing | |||
| 1983 | Meatworker | |||
| 1982 | Welcome Jag | |||
| 1981 | Official | |||
| 1980 | Slick O’Leary | |||
| 1979 | *** Not Held *** | |||
| 1978 | Fabey Forbes | |||
| 1977 | Worooa Jack | |||
| 1976 | Sue Silin | |||
| 1975 | Sidanna | |||
| 1974 | Proper Duke | |||
| 1973 | Borough Cheer | |||
| 1972 | Leicester Edie | |||
| 1971 | Melbourne View | |||
| 1970 | Andrew Takiri | |||
| 1969 | *** Unknown *** | |||
| 1968 | Rebelaire | |||
| 1967 | Princess Kerry | |||
| 1966 | *** Unknown *** | |||
| 1965 | Chief Anama | |||
| 1964 | *** Unknown *** | |||
| 1963 | Shan’s Jewel | |||
| 1962 | Sweet Mandy | |||
| 1961 | Sweet Mandy | |||
| 1960 | Eager Flight | |||
| 1959 | Slippermee | |||
| 1958 | Taranyka | |||
| 1957 | Cantee |
Pawnote: The club first raced at the Eaglehawk circuit just out of Bendigo in the 1950s. The Cup was run over 400 yards, but for a few years in the 1970s saw it go over 528 metres. When the club moved to Lords Raceway in 1988 the race was conducted over the sprint distance of 430 metres every year except 2001 when it was run over the middle distance of 545 metres. The 2022 winner (Typhoon Sammy) was the third on the new circuit at Lords Raceway over the popular distance of 425 metres.
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