News
5 November, 2026
Age No Barrier To Veteran Marvel Mepunga
FIVE of Mepunga Reward’s rivals in Saturday night’s Group 1 Topgun weren’t born when the veteran marvel won his first race, way back in November 2023.
But try telling that to ageless Victorian superstar Mepunga Reward.
On Saturday night at The Meadows, Mepunga Reward, trained by Jeff Britton and raced by breeder Barry Smith, both Hall of Famers, will make his second consecutive appearance in the Group 1 Topgun (525m).
FIELDS AND FORM THE MEADOWS SATURDAY NIGHT
He ran seventh last year from box seven and is the $34 outsider of the field this time around from another awkward draw in six.
Incredibly, five of his Topgun rivals – Canya Talk Now, Off The Chart, Pound Keeping, Storm Hustler and favourite Wrongly Accused – hadn’t even been born when the veteran marvel won at his first start at Sandown Park way back in November 2023.
“You can’t believe it,” said trainer Jeff Britton.
“I’ve never had a dog like him before. Just his will to win and his track sense.”
A superbly bred son of champion 2025 Topgun victor Fernando Bale and Mepunga Isla, Mepunga Reward, who will turn five next April – which is approximately 38 in human terms – has made a habit of defying the odds.
When his career was just starting off, he was forced to the sidelines for eight months with a hock injury.
But he staged a remarkable return, with his career highlight – up to this point – coming at The Meadows in February when he won the G1 Temlee, like the Topgun, an invitation event.
After winning the G3 Brisbane Cup Consolation in July, it seemed likely Mepunga Reward would sail off into the sunset and a career at stud, but he had other plans.
“He served about 20 bitches but I never said he was retired,” said Britton.
“We kept him in work and I thought I’d just give him a trial at Geelong and see how he was actually going and he went better than everything else I trialled.
“I saw the race in Sydney (Masters Meteor) was coming up, so I decided to trial him at Wentworth Park and he ran 29.41 first go. And then he won his heat in 29.27.”
Mepunga Reward produced a run of the year contender when storming home from what seemed an impossible position to win the Masters Meteor final – for greyhounds four years and above – at the Million Dollar Chase meeting.
“The Topgun wasn’t planned at all,” Britton said.
“When his times were so good in Sydney and his willingness to chase is still there, I thought we might have a go at the Melbourne Cup. So that was the main plan.
“Then when he got an invite for the Topgun, I thought we might as well put him in and see if he gets a run.
“I think he’s really an x-factor. He’s going to bring something to the race, you’d think.
“We’re very proud of what he’s achieved. You treat all the dogs the same but he’s just special.”
Article courtesy of The Greyhound Recorders Gerard Guthrie.