Five Card Draw, winner of the 2016 Redcliffe Gold Cup.
The Darrel Graham-trained Five Card Draw has won the Moreton Bay Regional Council Redcliffe Gold Cup, Adam Sanderson steering the bay gelding home in a race that had everything from the very beginning.
A standing start race, the Gold Cup saw three major players miss the beginning of the race badly.
Lining up off the front row, Bio Marinus’ sulky backed into Applause, momentarily dislodging driver Trista Dixon, who was soon back in the seat but not before tangling with Mach Alert, all three missing the start by the best part of a half lap.
Travelling throughout the race brilliantly was Majestic Mach who took the lead early and travelled well, only to succumb to a flat tyre with over 1200 metres of the race remaining, finally being worn down in the back straight and finishing a gutsy fourth.
Five Card Draw stepped out well and positioned himself smartly throughout the race, coming out three wide on the final turn to storm home under pressure and take the win.
President of the Redcliffe Harness Racing Club, Mr. Bernie Ring was pleased with the successful night at Redcliffe and acknowledged the standing start can add another element to a race when talking of the three runners wiped out.
“These things happen in standing start races, it’s tradition that Redcliffe has the standing start Cup and I think we’ll keep going that way, even though it can add a bit of a scrimmage” Ring said.
Next race was the Redcliffe Hustler Oaks which saw Jack Butler in the winner’s circle again, Zara’s Delight taking the win a week after Butler’s brilliant Paton Purse win with Barynya.
Zara’s Delight led the field from start to finish in the Oaks, Cherish The Moment putting a strong challenge in on the final turn until Zara’s Delight rallied again, finding extra pace to pull away and win by a length.
Track records were broken tonight as well, Grant Dixon’s Tightrope winning in the Mayor Allan Sutherland Pace (1780m) in a blistering time of 1:54.9, while his other charge Our Overanova took out the Hustler 104 Trotters Discretionary Handicap.
