By Casey O'Connor
When the NRL season wraps up you know it is time to start studying the form guide as Spring Racing begins to thundering down the track.
Already the Epsom and Metropolitan handicap in Sydney are done and dusted as is Turnbull Stakes in Melbourne, a guide many punters find useful in finding their Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup fancies.
Peter Moody is flexing his training muscle since returning to the gig and his brilliant stayer Incentivise has firmed to a short-priced favourite in the upcoming Caulfield Cup. The gelding also heads the betting market in the Melbourne Cup and is in the market in the Cox Plate. Zaaki and Verry Elleegant are the top fancies in early betting. Another well in the betting is the winner of last weekend’s Metrop, Sydney galloper Montefilia.
With fewer international gallopers making the trip down under this year we may see some homegrown winners.
Of course, all this means it is also Cup time on the Southern Downs. The Warwick Cup was held over the weekend and this coming weekend the action turns to Wine Racing country, Armstrong Park in Stanthorpe.
Club Secretary, Mrs Jill Brunckhorst reports that interest is high in the 2021 meeting following the cancellation of the 2020 Cup due to COVID.
On Tuesday morning she said the phone had been ringing constantly since 7.00am as she fielded inquiries from owners and trainers and patrons looking for bookings for Marquee seating and lunches.
The Stanthorpe Cup meeting, always one of the most popular with punters, patrons and trainers on the country circuit coincides with the running of the Caulfield Cup.
The committee, club members and volunteers have been hard at it preparing the facilities for next week’s big event.
President, Neil ‘Chips’ Brunckhorst says he expects the track to and grounds to be in perfect condition following last week’s rain.
Fashions on the Field will be hotly contested, and the 2022 Apple and Grape Ambassadors will be formally introduced during the afternoon.
A full ring of bookmakers is expected, and bar and wine bar facilities will be in full swing. A reminder that as this is a fully licenced venue alcohol cannot be taken onto the course and will be confiscated by security.
Courtesy buses provided by Crisps Coaches will be running to the course from 11.00am and leave from opposite The Stanthorpe Post Office in Maryland Street returning after the last race. Patrons are urged to make use of this service.
Children Under 18 are most welcome but must be accompanied by an adult.
The music and entertainment kicks in after the last for the true stayers and Crisps will be on hand later in the evening to ferry the revellers back to town.
Bookings are still being taken for lunches and reserved seating. Contact Jill on 0400 361 186 for further information.
The Cup fun does not end in Stanthorpe if you are looking for a great day out the Clifton Turf club holds their Cup day on Saturday 23 October. So many choices.
