PROVINCIAL trainers have won two of the last three Muswellbrook Gold Cups – and no doubt will be back there in numbers chasing further success next Friday.
Why not, considering $450,000 is on offer for another form of “gold” in prizemoney on the feature Showcase eight-race program.
Heading the list is the $150,000 Two Rivers Wines Muswellbrook Gold Cup (1500m), which went to Newcastle trainers Nathan Doyle, who hails from Muswellbrook and Kris Lees with Petrology (Ash Morgan) and Itz Lily (Alysha Collett) in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott captured the Cup last year with Regal Stage, ridden by Winona Costin.
Not only does the Cup carry a first prize of $76,250, but importantly also eligibility for the $2m The Big Dance (1600m) to be run for only the second time at Royal Randwick in November.
The now retired Regal Stage contested last year’s inaugural running of The Big Dance, won by the Lees-trained Rustic Steel, whilst third placegetter Arapaho ran in the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington the same day and earned $160,000 for his connections in finishing 11th to Gold Trip.
The French import has since won the Grafton Cup (2350m), Premier’s Cup (2000m) at Randwick, and recently the Canberra Cup (2000m).
Muswellbrook Race Club general manager Trevor Taylor had barely settled into his new role when the 2022 Cup meeting was held, and is looking forward to staging the club’s biggest day of the year – with a silent prayer for good weather.
“We had a ‘Heavy 8’ track last year for my first Cup, and hopefully the weather gods are kinder to us this time,” he said.
“A lot of work has gone into the raceday, and there are a couple of very important lead-ups the day before.
“We have the charity golf day at Muswellbrook Golf Club on the Thursday with a 9am shotgun start. Funds from the day will go to Upper Hunter Homeless Support.
“That will be followed by the Cup Calcutta at the Royal Hotel, which is always popular.
”BHP is sponsoring the annual Fashions On The Field on raceday, with more than $3500 in fashion prizes on offer.
“There will be plenty of entertainment with two live bands performing. Whilst the racing will be first-class, our aim is to ensure the day is an event for everyone who attends, and that they leave the course having had a great time.”
Muswellbrook Race Club is very appreciative of a half-day public holiday being gazetted for Cup day, opening the door for a big crowd to be in attendance.
Denman-based Two Rivers Wines is one of 50 members of Muswellbrook’s Gold Sponsors Club, and was the lucky business to be drawn as naming rights sponsor of the Gold Cup.
“Two Rivers has just been taken over by Petersens Wines, who are understandably delighted to be associated with the Cup sponsorship,” Trevor Taylor said.
“We also have fantastic support sponsors such as TAB, Seven Network, DK Heavy Plant Services, Vinery Stud, Widden Valley of Champions, Horsepower, BHP and Muswellbrook Shire Council.”
Co-supporting races to the Two Rivers Wines Muswellbrook Gold Cup are the $75,000 Horsepower Showcase Skellatar Sprint (1000m) and $50,000 BHP Mt Arthur Wayne Harris Showcase Handicap (1280m).
There will also be a $50,000 Country Magic Class 3 Showcase Handicap (1450m) for eligible country-trained horses.
Nominations for all races close with Racing Australia at 11am Monday (March 27).
*Words John Curtis*
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