The ‘Carnival of Cups’ night at Bathurst Paceway last Saturday night was an outstanding success.
The $30,000 ‘Lexus’ sponsored Bathurst City Gold Cup (2520-metres) ended in a dead-heat in the Group Three feature.
The Ali Khouiss-trained Our Brahman Boy NZ (Alison Chisholm), the 2006 Cup winner, lead to the shadows of the posted and was joined on the line by a fast-finishing Paul Lasnick-trained Lucky Elsie (David Wilkins). After a short wait, the judges could not split the pair.
Race favourite Karloo Mick (Barry Lew) was only a neck away in third place.
The inaugural $20,000 ’Lexus Of Dubbo’ sponsored Gold Sovereign, for the four-year-old pacers, was won in easy fashion by Loud N Clear NZ, trained and driven by Peter Rixon, who led throughout to score. Jogalong Joel (Kurt Lew) and Albebaran (Neil Day) filled the placings.
Talented two year-old filly, Cheri Cullen, for the local Bernie Hewitt stable, made it two wins from as many starts in the $7,000 Bathurst City Toyota Sapling stakes, while the Martin Herbert-trained Franco Nester NZ (Jarrod Alchin) scored in the $7,000 Ronnie’s World Bathurst Guineas for the three-year-olds.
The large crowd of 1,900 on hand witnessed a great night’s action. The trackside marquee was a great hit with 200 people making the most of this trackside venue which included private tote operator, ‘Punters Club’, Lucky Door Prizes & views of the home turn and straight. On and off-course turnover, bookmakers turnover and the Club’s vital on-course revenue streams were excellent and the Bathurst Harness Racing Club were greatly pleased with the night.
Other events leading up to this night also added to this great night of racing including a golf day & Calcutta night. Thursday evening saw the hosting of a Calcutta night at the Bathurst RSL Club with over $800 raised for local Bathurst charity, Daffodil Cottage. The golf day on Friday held at Oberon Golf Club saw 65 players partake in this Australia Day Competition.
The Bathurst Harness Racing Club are most thankful of HRNSW’s support and sponsorship of this year’s ‘Carnival of Cups’ concept that that has certainly revitalized country and grass roots harness racing in regional New South Wales.
