News
14 September, 2025
FROM GOLF TRIP TO HEALESVILLE CUP
Tarawi Therese lit up the straight at Healesville on Sunday, breaking the first sectional record in a blistering 6.29 seconds before going on to win the 2025 Sportsbet Healesville Cup.
She stopped the clock in an incredible 18.68 seconds – less than half a length outside the overall track record.
“The time is out of this world – rare air,” race caller James Van de Maat said.
This Healesville Cup triumph can be traced back to the masterminds Seona and Holly Thompson at Christmas last year.
The self-proclaimed queens of secrets, Seona and Holly, gifted Jason and Luke a golf trip to New Zealand, where they met a past owner’s son-in-law and rekindled a connection with Tarawi Therese’s owner, Lorraine Atchison. And now, the rest is history – capped off with a Healesville Cup win.
Rumour has it, Tarawi Therese is one of trainer Jason Thompson’s favourites – no small statement given his kennel also houses star sprinter Explicit. Tarawi Therese won her Healesville Cup heat in tough conditions last week, which led punters to back straight-track specialists Mile A Minute and Serial Sticker. But in the final, Tarawi Therese held off a late surge from Mile A Minute to claim her first Group race victory in just 17 starts.
The daughter of Bernardo and Red Hot Chevy turns two in November.
Highway 31 Maiden Final
Meanwhile, the Highway 31 Maiden Final was taken out by Peter Presutto’s Off The Chart, clocking a slick 16.37 seconds over the 300 metres.
