Kempshalls' Two-Pronged Sprinters Cup Bid

ADRIEL Parson was not too happy with Warren Kempshall come Wednesday afternoon despite his dog Master Class winning his way into next week's time-honoured Grafton Sprinters Cup (450m).

“Adriel rang me while we were on the way to the track and asked what I thought of Master Class's chance in the Cup heat,” said Warren.

“I told him $20 each way should pull him up.”

Master Class, coming off a suitable wide draw, upset his Cup heat rivals at $31 after he had opened at $71. He ran 25.50.

“Adriel rang to say he'd had the $20 each way, but he was planning on having $50 each way,” said Warren. “He wasn't happy and admitted he should not have rung me.”

Adriel is a cousin of Warren's wife Sonia and some time ago he insisted the Kempshalls go looking for a greyhound for him to buy.

“He came up with about 300 from Victoria, none of which we wanted,” said Warren.

“So I started looking on his behalf and came up with this dog.

Impress Dressel has impressed at Grafton, clocking the quickest heat time of 25.29 on heat 3 of the Village Green Hotel Sprinters Cup today!

Grafton Results: https://t.co/KiI5KU63yf#thedogs #greyhoundracing #greyhounds #grafton pic.twitter.com/q5f1Wb6NcV

— The Dogs (@Thedogs_com_au) July 5, 2023

“We had raced a half brother to him called Dashing Thunder and he was pretty good.”

Master Class cost just $3000 and has already won twice from a handful of starts but has had no luck in a few other races.

“He was in front in a heat of The Thunderbolt and was dragged down from behind,” said Sonia.

The Kempshalls have two in the Cup final, their first runners in the Sprinters Cup since moving to Grafton from Townsville in 2010.

The other finalist is Flying Zinger a $3500 buy from Melbourne who has already won $30,000 since heading north.

She was third to Impress Dressel in her heat of the Cup.

“She's is such a lovely bitch and just loves it up here especially with the kids about,” said Sonia.

“Both our dogs have a chance if they draw wide. The seven for Master Class and the eight for Flying Zinger would be ideal.”

The Cup box draw will be conducted on Monday.

The Kempshalls are over the moon to have a Sprinters Cup finalist let alone two.

“It's very exciting for us,” said Sonia. “It's our home track and just to be in the race is something.

“The box draw, as usual, will tell the story of the final.”

The other Cup heats went to Neil Staines' Wiradjuri Jack in 25.45 and Dave Irwin's Impress Dressel in 25.29.

Wiradjuri Jack has already been a finalist in the Group 2 Maitland Gold Cup and Group 3 The Ambrosoli.

Impress Dressel adds to his record by making the Cup final. He has been a finalist in the G2 Maitland Gold Cup, G3 New Sensation, Temora Cup and Grafton Cup.