Caption: The 2005 Minister’s Gift winner Supa Snoop with with trainer Ted Medhurst’s daughter Emily.

SHANE YATES MEMORIAL CUP

TASBRED – 461m – Grades 3, 4 & 5.

Run  at Hobart. Final: Thursday, July 22.                

$11,960-to-the-winner.

By Brennan Ryan

THE Shane Yates Memorial Cup series is now established as a much sought after race which honours the late Tasmanian broadcaster.

Hobart this July will stage the pivotal series over 461 metres with $11,960 awaiting the eventful winner.

Those who knew Shane Yates remember his passion for highlighting all achievers across all codes.

Previously the Shane Yates Memorial was  staged as the Minister’s Gift run over three weeks.

Hall of fame trainer Ted Medhurst has won the race three times over 11 years with quality runners –  Supa Snoop in 2005, Ejay’s Escape in 2006 and later on with Keune in 2015.

The Ballyhooly Road-based breeder/trainer describes those three chasers as top stars of the track.

“There’s not many that came along as tough as Supa Snoop,” said Ted .

“He wasn’t blessed with great box manners but made up for it with a motor and such willingness, the traits of being fantastic chaser. It meant he could sprint and eventually handle the longer distances.

“We took him across to The Meadows and he won first-up over 600 metres which was a big effort. He then went across to Angle Park and was that unlucky one night the dog should have won by panels.”

Aside from the 2005 Minister’s Gift win at the Hobart Showgrounds, Supa Snoop won another 26 races.

The son of Trendy Leigh won both his heat and semi before coming up with box three in the Hobart final.

He downed the two Neville Allison-trained runners Dilston Diamond and Dilston Knight in 25.84sec.

“Supa Snoop had come back from a torn back muscle injury and won a Devonport Cup heat. There aren’t many dogs out there that overcome career-ending injuries and it proved how good he was,” said Ted.

Ted’s 2006 winner Ejay’s Escape, a son of Waterview Star, won 12 races taking out the final at Launceston.

Nine years later the Medhurst kennel would achieve their third classic success with Keune.

With 20 wins from 47 starts, the mighty daughter of Barcia Bale and Miss Roman Nose took all before her, not only winning the 2015 Minister’s Gift but also the Group 3 Devonport Cup.

Ted says there would be trainers across all of Tasmania wanting to win a race named after Shane Yates.

“Shane did a lot of media coverage for racing – he was passionate and it was a pleasure to know him,” he said.