Record monthly rainfall, sunshine and a good track together with capacity fields for the six race program was all that was needed to ensure the 2016 Young Cup meeting at Toompang Racecourse was one of the best held for some time.
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With free admission for the ladies and a free courtesy bus provided by Loaders Coaches, the day was certainly going to be one of entertaining and exciting racing with the feature race, the Young Hotel, South West Slopes Credit 2016 Young cup attracting a top field of eight runners and some of the best country jockeys in NSW.
Last years winner Zarrieg for Leeton trainer Peter Clancy and Wagga jockey Brad Clark had his supporters following a couple of runs at Wagga but found the Tumut-trained Sand Dune ridden by Megan Taylor too strong in taking out the $9000 feature for another great Young supporter in trainer Kerry Weir.
These two trainers continue to support the Young Turf Club and they are always at the forefront of wins on this track over recent years.
Sand Dune won the start from barrier two and led throughout over the 1600 metre journey to record a 2¼ length win over the locally owned, Chris Heywood trained Asunder owned by Sharon and Darren Corcoran and ridden by Rachael Hunt.
Wantabadgery trainer Rodger Waters saddled up third placegetter Exchancellor and handed in an honest effort after being midfield throughout.
The winner Sand Dune has now been in the winners circle seven times for his owners from fifty six starts and has collected $106,692 for his many owners.
Racing opened, with a much welcomed new semaphore board, with the 1000 maiden handicap, the eventual winner Brahmagirl ridden by Brad Clark and trained by Tricia Anderson put in a good performance to score a 1¼ length win over Freightman trained by Michael Smith from Canberra and ridden by Rachael Hunt with the more fancied Murtalass for Kerry Weir finishing third.
The four year old winning mare is owned by Lang Brothers Racing, the Lonhro mare having only her third registered start since having two trials at Warwick Farm and Randwick before her two runs at Wagga.
The first race is always a good guide of track conditions and a good three was possibly a fair call.
Race two, again over 1000 metres went to the Sarah Murray-Leslie trained Ain’t She A Dane ridden by Chelsea McFarlane winning by 1 1/ lengths from Fortunate News, Brad Clarke and Berkeley Gardens trained at Canberra by Luke Pepper.
The winner had won at Braidwood in February and placed at Crookwell, a fourth at Moruya last time out her best recent form.
Canberra-trained Darbalara won race three for John Rolfe and jockey Michael Heagney proving too strong for The Imp-trained by Gratz Vella, with Had Your Chance trained by Ryley Menz claiming third in another tight finish with the judge posting a 1½ L advantage to the winner who was a last start Cowra winner on 23rd April under the guidance of the same jockey.
Queanbeyan trainer Michael Sparrow combined with Nyssa Burrells to win race four with the Zariz seven year old mare Zarina’s Gold.
Always forward in the race, the winner proved too classy for runnerup Cowra galloper Dalhero and Richo ridden by Clayton Gallager for Parkes trainer George Wright.
Race five provided the closest finish of the day when Rebeka Prest got every inch out of the Richard Coulton-trained chestnut gelding Hackenbush to get the judges pat by a nose over favourite Excellent Oratorio ridden by Michae; Heagney with Getting Ready in third place for former local jockey, the much travelled James Geppert.
The Young Turf Club would like to thank everyone for their support in presenting this meeting, they include, Hilltops Equine Centre, Donges Supa IGA, South West Slopes Credit Union, Byrne Demolition, Young Services Club, Elevation Restaurant, Shane Green, Young Hotel, The Australian Hotel, Loaders Coaches, Bonnie View Quarries, Terry Bros Furniture, South West Tractors, Poppas Fudge and Jam Factory, Bowness Stud, K P Carmody & Co, The Loft, Bruce’s Mensland, Young Lions Club, Simon Cusack Electrical, Richard Mellish Insurance, (rmis), KMWL (Kevin Miller, Lennon & Co.) Radio 2LF, Community Radio 2YYY, Young Witness, and all those volunteers and committee who once again made this day possible.
A big thank you must also go to president Alison O’Hara and secretary Symone Grimson and her family for a job well done.
