Family dayout at theMoe RacingClub

Horse Racing

By TOM HAYES

FRIENDS and family flocked in their numbers to the Moe Racing Club for the Local Cups & Community Race Day on Sunday.

Aseven-race meet was prepared for the couple of hundred people in attendance, and the track was graded aGood 4throughoutthe day.

The racing might not have been the biggest concern;perhaps finding shadewas, as the crowd was treated to aperfect summer’s day in the final weeks of the season.

People were eager to watch the Race 1Moe RefrigerationChurchill Cup Maiden Highweight over 1600 metres, and they didn’t have to wait long to witness alocal winner, when Bullock Island for Sale’s Kevin Milham was first to cross the line.

The four-year-old gelding provedtobemore suited to alonger distance, after being raced on the shorter 1200m races previously, placing ninth and 11th.

Bullock Island jumped best from the pack to take an early lead, stretching to nearly three lengths, closely followed by Shooting Bricks.

As they rounded the bend, BullockIsland and Shooting Bricks steamed well clear of the rest, but the leaddidn’t change as Bullock Island reached the line first, just over two lengths clear.

HolyMongolian for Sale’sAdam Hanley came home in fifth, whileABeautiful Noise for Bairnsdale’s MalcolmLeysfinished eighth and Rusty Nail for Moe’s Ian Jones waslastto crossthe line

Race 2’sJohn KerrReal Estate Trafalgar Cup 0-58 Highweight (2400m), was aclose finish, won by Tasuma for Robbie Laing.

Tasuma came home strong in the final 400m, having to find apath past three horses.

Once he turned at the bend, it was quite literally asprint to the finish line -one that he’d win, pipping He’s Run Away by ahead at the line.

Onlya further halfalength behind was Asternishing, who could’ve beenthe winnerif there was another 100m.

Sassoon for Sale’s Rebecca Kelly was close to the front in the early stages, but slowed up at the important stages, finishing eighth.

The Race 3Merchant Butchers Newborough Cup 3YO Maiden (1200m) was takenout by Peter Moody’s Swiss Babe.

She swiftly found the lead not long after the jump, before leading the pack for the entire race.

Swiss Babe made it look easy in just her third race, beating the favourite, Checkendon, by nearly two lengths.

Milham was unable to pick up another winner in this race, as his Ballet Boy finished 10th.

Race 4’s Morwell Bowling Club Morwell Cup 4YO Maiden (1200m)saw the first favourite winner of theday, Dirty Mind for Anthony Freedman.

Dempster for Sale’s Susie Wells led early, but in Dempster-fashion, fell off pretty quickly.

Dirty Mind ran behind the pacemakers, running three-wide at the 400m in an attempt to get aclean line on the straight.

DirtyMindquickly found ground, going stride for stride with Frostwood before kicking clear, reaching the line first by one and ahalf lengths.

Listen for Moe’s Paul and Tracey Templeton camefifth, Noortoomany forKelly finished ninth, while Dempster came last.

The Race 5Natures Cargo Yarragon Cup 0-58 Handicap (1200m) was narrowly won by No New Tricks for Alan Kennan.

No New Trickssettled in the packbefore findingthe frontafter going three-wideatthe bend Fromthere he looked as if he couldn’tbe beaten.

ALate charge was forced by One Man Band forMoe’s Darryl Blackshaw, coming from ninth at the 400m mark.

Like Asternishing in Race 2, One Man Band would’ve been agood chance to win if there was another 100m or so.

But,NoNew Tricksfound the linefirstbyhalf alength to One Man Band, sealing the fifth win of hiscareer.

Beautrooper for Sale’s Troy Kilgower finished sixth, after leading for majority of the race.

Race 6’s LV Drafting Yallourn North Cup 0-58 Handicap (1000m) saw another local winner, whenI’m Cheekyfor Sale’s Bill Woodwon by anose.

Only ahead separated the front three runners, needing aphoto finish to decide the places.

It was eventually found that two locals were in the top three.

I’m Cheeky was first to the line by anose to Revolutionist, who was anose in front of Another Engagement for Moe’s Catherine Martindale.

DeliveryMan for Kelly finished fifth, justunder three lengths away, after he stayed in the same position for most of the race.

The final race of the day, the Race 7Ladbrokes WarragulCup 0-58Handicap (1600m), provided agrandstand two-horseracetocomplete proceedings.

Eevavessance was the early leader, but like most that draw ahead quickly, soon found herself behind everyone.

OnehundredPercent took the leadfrom Eevavessance, stretching to aquick two-length lead, headed for home.

But, Diamanda for MichaelBinneywas not done with yet, clawing back the lead and taking it forherself,first to the line by ahead.

Langworthy for Moe’s Allison Bennett completed the first three, three lengths behind the leading two.

Highland Blaze for Bairnsdale’s Jackson Pallot came seventh, Piccolo Fiore for Hanley was eighth, Bishop Rockfor Wells came 10th, Panagsama for Sale’s Paul Worthington finished 11th and AceyDeucyfor Moe’s CharlieGafa was 12th.

The Moe Racing Club’s next meet is planned to go ahead on ANZACDay (Tuesday, April 25),for the Hip Pocket &Cool Group ANZAC Day Race Day.

Thenext localmeet is at the Sale Turf Club today (February 22), with an eight-race card scheduled for Wednesday racing.

VICTORIAN COUNTRYCHAMPIONSHIPS 2023 HELD IN WANGARATTA-TRARALGONRESULTS

Relay Medal Winners

In addition to the above we have afurther 18 swimmers winningmedals in relays:

Elise Pratt(10)

HarryKurrle (11)

Max Auteri (12)

Sienna Vivian (12)

Thomas Pendergast (12)

Makenzie Hornstra(12)

LaraLandels (13)

Ruby Combridge (13)

MorganMcConville (14)

Jess Whiting (14)

EmilyAuteri(15)

SamSbaglia (17)

Zoe Dowler (17)

Josh Wight (18)

Logan Archibald (19)

Fabienne Schoutens (24)

CamJuha (29)

Maasa Hummel (38)

Additional Finalists

In addition to the above we have thefollowing 20 swimmers whomade individual or relayfinals:

Kaiden Warne(10)

HarryGiblett(11)

Milla Said (11)

BailleyHeafield (12)

Tyler White(12)

Isabella Heath (12)

Hallie Hughes (13)

HollyPritchard(13)

Ruby Kurrle (13)

Ruby Paulet (14)

Madi Vivian (15)

Eliza Watts(17)

Joel Baillie (18)

Jordyn Cargill (18)

Will Pendergast (18)

SamReid (19)