Tumut trainer Kerry doubled his chances in the feature race by entering both last year’s winner of the Young Cup along with stablemate Go Get Em in the 1,600 m feature worth $9,000.

Sand Dune was given top weight going into the race by was out gunned by Go Get Em ridden by Megan Taylor in a thrilling photo finish.

The judge posted Go Get Em ahead of the Canberra trained Damysus and Lady Jesse from Wagga with Mugga Malley coming in fourth.

The Young Hotel, South West Slopes Credit Union Cup has once again headed down the freeway to Tumut and will no doubt take pride of place on the mantelpiece of his owners, Lameuk Stud Pty Ltd and manager Mr. N. E Murdoch.

With about 42 mm of rain falling on Friday night through to Saturday morning alone, the threat of cancellation was very real but with the sun shining and an early morning inspection from the stewards the call was made to move forward with the meeting, declaring the track a heavy nine classification for the first race at 12.40 pm.

Race one was won by Time of Her Life trained by John Rolfe and ridden by Michael Travers ahead of Getting Ready for Wendy Baker and Nyssa Burrells with the Terry Fahey trained Nemo Dat owned by local Keith Carmody and Daniel Pitomac.

Riders returned to the scales after the first race and declared the track suitable and fit for racing.

The second race of the day was taken out by the top weight Manatassee trained in Canberra by Daryl Rolfe who declared before the meeting that the six-year-old mare would be suited by the heavy track condition. 

Rolfe’s prediction was spot on with the Bryan Murphy ridden galloper proving too strong for Unshinkable and Lepa Brena with a winning margin of just a long neck.

Race three continued to provide an exciting finish with John Rolfe making it a double with another top weight in the grey galloper Old Maribo ridden by Jodie Hughes defeating Sikum for trainer Chris Heywood and Brad Clarke, with the Russell Hughes trained Griffith horse Star Hero third ridden by Michael Heagney. 

A Gundagai trainer provided the winner of race four with the three-year-old filly County Limerick ridden by Meagan Taylor who kept the judges on their toes before declaring her the winner ahead of the Kembla Grange mare Costa Laquetta and Bright Irish Eyes with a long neck and a nose separating all three placegetters.

Queanbeyan trainer Rex Cole kept favourite backers more than happy in race six when his six-year-old mare Coral Downs ridden by Carly Frater-Hill recorded a two length win over Bells Creek with Shine A Light ridden by Michael Hagney finishing third in another close minor placing photo.

Jockey Nyssa Burrells rode a copybook race on the Cowra trained Kooroora Miss when she gave the five year old mare a very comfortable run through in defeating Excellent Oratario ridden by Tara Jane Mitchell and Blinkin Doubtful for Tiffany Jefferies and trainer Wendy Baker from Forbes.

Wellington owner and prolific racegoer Joaquin McLennan capped off a great weekend by taking home The Loft Best Dressed Lady award while local farmer and galloping enthusiast John Fowler received the Best Dressed Gent award courtesy of Bruce’s Mensland in the highly contested fashions in the field.

The committee would once again like to sincerely thank all sponsors and volunteers for their continued support and look forward to continuing the tradition of racing at the famous Toompang course for many years to come.