News
Page 10 The Moorabool News – 8 February, 2022
Email - news@themooraboolnews.com.au
They’re just folk in the racing industry By Lachlan Ellis A former female jockey is trying to get her horse a spot in the world’s richest mile race, with horses selected by public vote – and voting could net you $250,000. Kassie Furness grew up in Ballan but now owns a stable in Bendigo, where she met her husband, horse trainer Josh Julius. The couple own stakes in a 5-year-old gelding named Just Folk, which is on the cusp of selection in The All-Star Mile – a race where only 15 competitors are chosen by public vote. The All-Star Mile will be held on 19 March at Flemington Racecourse, with voting for the competitors closing this Sunday, 13 February. At the time of writing, Just Folk sits 17th (1050 votes) – around 100 votes shy of the qualifying 15th position, with the Melbourne Cup 2021 winner Verry Elleegant leading the field on over 8600 votes. Ms Furness said just being on a list next to famous trainers such as Chris Waller and Mick Price was an honour. “I’ve been involved with horses for almost ten years now. When I was young, I was into horses, but gave it up and started studying business, and working at a bar. I needed a bit of extra money and started working as a stable hand…and the rest was history,” she told the Moorabool News. Just Folk with trainer/owner Josh Julius after a Group 2 “My partner, Josh, is training a small team of 24 horses. We’ve win in 2021 at Moonee Valley. quite literally started from the bottom. To be involved with such a calibre of horses, and even contemplate getting into such a prestigious race as the All-Star Mile is such a thrill for us. “We’re just enjoying the ride, and we’re just so humbled to even be He is a 5-year-old gelding with career prize money of experiencing something like this for us, it’s huge. Just to play with $379,000 and, has 5 wins from 17 starts under his belt. the big boys, and for Josh to be mixing with the best of the best, is Heading into last spring's Group 2 Crystal Mile at The just amazing…we’re so grateful.” Valley on Cox Plate Day, Bendigo trainer Josh Julius As a professional jockey Ms Furness rode 81 winners, recording described his operation as "a little stable having a over $1.8 million in prizemoney. An horrific fall ended her career. crack". He was richly rewarded for doing so, having The All-Star Mile race has a prize fund of $5 million, but it’s not scratched Just Folk from a Benchmark 84 at the just the owners, jockeys and trainers that benefit. previous night's meeting. Sent out as a $15 roughie in One person who votes for each of the top 10 horses will be the Crystal Mile, Just Folk responded to the urgings of designated that horse’s ‘Owner Ambassador’, winning $250,000 if John Allen to score by a half-length, with the highlyit wins. rated Kiwi miler and fellow All-Star Mile nominee Another $250,000 is on offer for one lucky entrant to the Raceday Elephant running third. Just Folk proved the win was Wildcard Competition on 19 March. no fluke by finishing sixth (and only a length from the To cast your vote for Just Folk and go into the running for a cash winner Superstorm) in INTERNATIONAL the Group 1 Cantala Stakes. THE ANNUAL COLLIERS prize, visit www.allstarmile.com.au/horse-profiles/just-folk.
JUST FOLK
Ballarat Cup
Yaloak Polo Club Sunday 13th Feb - Gates open 11am at YALOAK POLO CLUB 4485 Geelong-Ballan Road, Fiskville
Ballarat Cup THE ANNUAL COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL
Photo – Yaloak Polo Club
You are invited to Yaloak Polo Club for a jam-packed day of high-speed polo, country hospitality and entertainment Main photo for the whole family. Gates open 11am Colin Rosewarne with matches all day.
Polo is back
It is called the Ballarat Cup, but it is held Catered Marquee locally, just 10km south of Ballan and is on $ 1 , 200 pe r m arq u e e again. Enjoy the polo in true style in a private Unfortunately, in 2021 the Premier marquee for up to 12 people (including entry Daniel tickets, gourmetcalled grazinga menu with beer, Andrews snap COVID lockdown SUNDAY 10th FEBRUARY 2019 food and drink Marquees: $1200 for 10 people includes andprior soft drink). just 24wine hours to the event taking place; CELEBRITY EXHIBITION MATCH VIP marquee: $125 per person includes food and drink the club lost tens of thousands of dollars in V I Pand T aevent i l g ahire. te Parking food Exclusive field side car parking: $100 BYO picnic etc. $ 7 0 pe r car FASHIONS ON THE FIELD They’ve bounced back for 2022 and polo is You are invited to Yaloak Polo Club for A fun way for you to cater for your friends a great spectator sport, an experience not to General admission: $20 per acar. BYO etc. jam-packed daypicnic of high-speed polo, and family while still securing a closecountry hospitality and entertainment be missed and forTwo as little $20 (car) you for the whole family. Gates open 11am up view of the action. entry as tickets KIDS ACTIVITIES Refreshments available on sitewith formatches purchase. all day. and your family can have a cracking day out, included. Catered Marquee with plenty on for the kids too. Booking email: yaloakpolo@bigpond.com $1,2 0 0 pe r m arqu e e G e nopen e r a lat Athe dm i s s i oPolo n Club at 4485 HIGH-GOAL POLO Gates Yaloak Enjoy theRUNNING polo in true style RACES in a private for up to 12 people (including entry Enquiries: 0437marquee 96 gourmet 00 85 $ 20 pe rRoad, pe rson tickets, grazing menu with beer, Geelong-Ballan Fiskville, at 11 am this wine and soft drink). CELEBRITY EXHIBITION MATCH Tickets on the under 14’s go it’ll free.be BYO Sunday, 13gate, February – and a day of far VIP Tailgate Parking picnic. more than just polo matches. $70 p e r c ar FASHIONS ON THE FIELD A fun way for you to cater for your friends Also on offer are a jumping castle, donkey per person and family while $21 still securing a closeup view of the action. Two entry tickets KIDS ACTIVITIES and pony rides for the kids, as well as a kids’ included. parade of future polo players, a celebrity General Admission RUNNING RACES game with jockeys and trainers, a race $2 0 p e r p e rs o n Tickets on the gate, under 14’s go free. BYO between a Porsche, horse, and motorbike, a picnic. grooms race, and finally, an auction at the Advertising end of the day. sponsored Club Captain Greg Keyte said the Ballarat by the Official event Moorabool News Cup would be a big day for all ages. partner
Fast & furious ACTION – Great family day out! DON’T MISS OUT – BOOK NOW HIGH-GOAL POLO
Official event
Father and daughter, Greg and Kelly Keyte, ready to play polo in the upcoming Ballarat cup.
SUNDAY 10th FEBRUARY 2019
Coiers Baarat Cup presents
Kassie Furness Julius with daughter Frankie, and husband Josh Julius. Photos - submitted
Book now!
RSVP to Kelly on k_fernandez81@icloud.com or phone 0400
“We’ll have celebrities coming, some big racing names including Ciaron Maher. Things aren’t as bad as we thought they were going to be with COVID, we’re expecting a pretty big crowd on the day,” Mr Keyte told the Moorabool News. Four matches will be played across the day, consisting of four and five chukka matches. “The prize-giving and the auction will be at the end of the day, at 4 o’clock.” With the property sold, the question has been raised whether this event will be the last – but Mr Keyte couldn’t confirm or deny it. “We can probably get one more in, the new owners don’t take over until the end of February 2023. But I don’t know for sure…it could be the last, who knows,” he said. Marquees are sold out, however, tickets for the VIP marquee are still available for $125 per person, which includes food and drink, while refreshments will also be available for purchase on the day to the general public. To book your tickets, email yaloakpolo@ bigpond.com, or for general admission just arrive on the day. Further inquiries call 0437 960 085.