By David Gilbert
IF there is one country race meeting that has stood the test of time, it has to be Casterton cup day.
The small, far western Victorian club is a long way from the big smoke, but it continues to deliver the goods in the middle of May each year.
While the cup day crowds at Casterton have not quite gone back to the pre-Covid days, it remains one of the most popular country cup fixtures, as we saw last Sunday.
Fans of jumps racing were in their element, with three hurdles and a steeplechase and all horses and jockeys coming through unscathed.
One owner, on the suggestion of his Warrnambool trainer Tom Dabernig, made the long trek from Perth, to see his three-year-old filly British Angel compete in (and win) the BM 70 event over 1200 metres.
Dabernig has a good opinion of the youngster and is looking at running her next start in a mid-week Melbourne fillies and mares race.
Occasional drizzle throughout the day did nothing to deter the 1,500 people in attendance and there was a record 41 marquees which made an awesome sight up on the hill, stretching all the way down the straight.
The 53-seat race day bus from Mount Gambier, put on by Racing Victoria, was almost full and its passengers are already pencilling in Casterton cup day for next year.
HANDLED THE DISTANCE RISE
THE $50,000 Casterton cup went to a former Michael O’Leary trained galloper in Picaroon who was on trial at the 2000-metre journey.
Picaroon won four races for O’Leary, including one Adelaide victory, before being transferred to the Tom Dabernig stable at Warrnambool last year.
The six-year-old mare has really come of age in the past seven months, with a win in a $70,000 race at Hamilton in October and a follow up victory at Flemington during Melbourne cup week in November, both over 1600 metres.
The last 400 metres on Sunday was always going to be a test, but Picaroon ($9.50-$7) handled it with ease and put paid to her rivals over the final furlong.
It was the second leg of a winning double for Dabernig on a day where Warrnambool trainers won six of the eight races.
“It was a highlight winning the country trainer’s race at Flemington during cup week, but this preparation she has struggled to find her form,” Dabernig told the media post race.
“But, I thought ‘she’s a Fiorente that has never raced beyond a mile’, so we stepped her up to this cup distance today and it’s great to see her do it.”
Brawl, who won the Casterton cup two years ago, put up a huge effort to finish third after dawdling out of the barrier.
The cup field was led out onto the track by Casterton lass Stacey Edwards on her pony Napoleon, who can be a handful at times, but was on his best behaviour on Sunday.
Last month, Stacey (and Napoleon) won the inaugural national pony race final at Randwick in a stirring victory.
It is fair to say Stacey and Napoleon on Sunday received a far bigger reception than what the cup winner did a few minutes later.
The other eye-catching run of the day was that of Chill With Teejay, a 20/1 chance in the BM 70 handicap who belied those odds with a good third.
ONE FOR THE PURISTS
IT was the icing on the cake for the jumping fraternity at Casterton when track specialist Elvison won his third consecutive Two Rivers steeplechase.
In a soul stirring display of steeplechasing, Elvison again led all the way to win his seventh race from nine attempts over the big fences at Casterton.
Despite two unplaced runs previously this campaign, his backers cashed in on the result by backing Elvison from $6 on race morning to start the $2.70 favourite.
He received a mighty reception (and rightly so) upon coming back to scale, and his overjoyed owners burst into the old hit song Galveston (replaced by Elvison) as they posed for winning photographs.
His trainer Symon Wilde had three winners for the day, two of them over the jumps and he continues to be amazed at the feats of Elvison around the unique Casterton circuit.
“It’s unbelievable, he just seems to grow an extra leg here,” Wilde said as his star jumper was being unsaddled.
LAST RACE WINNER
NARACOORTE trainer Sue Murphy clocked up the kilometres in the space of 24 hours last weekend.
Murphy had two runners in the Casterton cup (no joy there) and then headed to Stawell the following day with one runner in the final event.
The wait was worthwhile as Hasta La Chilly ($15) put up a strong performance to race three wide and win the 1300-metre BM 58 handicap with Christine Puls in the saddle.
“He has always shown promise and we have given him time to mature, and there were excuses for him the previous start at Horsham,” Murphy said.
“He is a tough horse and is still learning all the time and he should be good up to 1600 metres.”
WINNERS SPREAD AROUND
LOCALLY trained pacers won four of the six events at the harness meeting at the Greenwald Paceway last Friday night.
Steve Fennell got the ball rolling when Billies Jet ($7.50-$10) made it three wins from her past four starts by winning the opening race, thanks to a clever Mark Phillips drive.
The Howard combination of Graeme (trainer) and son/driver Brent took out the NR 40 pace when Sunshinefromheaven was untroubled to lead all the way.
Always Dancing was impressive winning race four for the Alyce Finnis stable as the two-year-old took on older and far more experienced rivals and beat them with ease.
Trainer Greg Howard had a winner with the first starter Sea Hunter which gave driver Jackie Barker the first leg of a winning double.
Harness racing continues on Sunday week (June 2) for what will be the final meeting for the club until the spring.
NOW FOR MILLICENT CUP DAY
IF the positive vibes from Casterton cup day carry over to this Sunday, then the Millicent Racing Club can expect a great day out at Glenburnie for its annual meeting.
Excellent entries have been received and the Millicent cup is worth a record $40,000 in prize money.
From the nominations, the Paul Presuker trained Brawl looks a good each-way chance in the cup on the proviso he backs up from last Sunday’s Casterton cup.
If ever Moorak Miss is going to win another race, surely it has to be the 2050-metre class one handicap.
The five-year-old mare has run some terrific races in the past two months without winning and, back on a big spacious track, she looks well paced to give local trainer Robert Schultz an overdue win.
