Consistent nine year-old Choice Harvest showed a turn of foot that defied his age to take out the 2023 White Lion Hotel Motel Deniliquin Cup on Saturday.
On a glorious spring day that was overcast in the early afternoon before the sun shone brightly, a large crowd enjoyed competitive racing amidst the relaxed country atmosphere.
The three favourites took out the placings in the cup, with the Wangaratta trained Choice Harvest breaking clear in the home straight to defeat Albury mare Shame For Fame, with top weight Soldier Of Love showing courage to hang on for third while lumping 63kg.
The winner was ridden by Jason Lyon and is trained by Craig Weeding, whose other runner in the cup, Tullys Gold, took out fourth place.
Choice Harvest’s $8300 prize purse took his career earnings to more than $265,000, and it was his 12th win from 75 starts, in addition to 20 placings.
He came into the race in good form, having two wins and a third from his previous three starts.
The exciting cup race capped off a brilliant day for Deniliquin Racing Club, which was able to hold a successful Cup Day meeting for the first time in four years following interruptions from COVID, then the 2022 floods.
Club president Greg Danckert was delighted with every aspect of the day and thanked the Deniliquin community for its support.
“The local racing went smoothly - the track raced well and the stewards and jockeys were all happy with the condition of the track,” Dankert said.
“We were also extremely pleased with the crowd; racing fans as well as those looking for a fun day out got right behind the event.
“Days like this do not just happen, they take a lot of organising and work from volunteers.
“We are fortunate to have an active committee and lots of other community support, which helped ensure the day was a success.
“We also have the backing of the local business community which is very much appreciated.”
Danckert especially recognised the White Lion Hotel Motel for sponsoring the Deniliquin Cup, as well as those businesses which sponsored the other five races.
Fashions On The Field was also very popular, helped along by an impressive prize pool of more than $2500 across nine categories, and the fantastic work of coordinators Liz and Pip Whykes and support from major sponsor CNH Industrial Capital. More on Fashions On The Field is on page nine.
On track, the racing started with the 1000 metre BLT Fabrication Pty Ltd and Ritchies IGA Maiden Handicap, which set the scene for competitive racing when the three placegetters hit the line only three-quarters of a length apart.
The winner was seven year-old mare Hi Poppy, who had previously raced 33 times for 15 placings, without greeting the judge.
She led around the turn and was able to hold off the challenge from fast finishing Son Of A Blonde and Kerle’s Miss.
Hi Poppy is trained by Ross Purcell at Jerilderie and was ridden by Cameron Quilty.
Race two was the Gunn Freight Benchmark 50 1200m Handicap and another close finish, with Swan Hill eight year-old Toojay flashing home to get the photo from early leader Native Rock, with the Zoustar gelding Legal Zou a length away in third place.
The winner is trained by Nathan Hobson at Swan Hill and was ridden by young apprentice Makisha Salter. It was the gelding’s seventh win from 69 starts.
Race three was the Australian Food and Agriculture & Elders Rural Deniliquin 1400m Maiden Plate, won by the Tatura trained Danger Man who was a well supported $4.40 equal favourite, facing an easier field after not having been placed in his six career starts, which have predominantly been at Victorian provincial level.
He was given an ideal run by jockey Randy Tan and wore down the leader Filtration in the straight, which held on for second, well clear of the third placegetter Biden.
Danger Man is trained by Peter Sullivan.
In race four, the Hunter Landale Memorial Class 1 Handicap over 1400m, the Wagga Wagga trained Go Ellie Go was a well supported $2.50 favourite, and had a battle for the lead throughout with topweight Kia Hohe.
But the $3.50 chance Outpour had the drop on the leaders and under the persuasion of Richard Bensley was able to wear them down and eventually score by three-quarters of a length.
Outpour, under the care of Con Kelly at Swan Hill, recorded its second win from 18 starts.
The final event on the program was the Taskers Deniliquin Class 3 1600m Handicap.
Although this was the smallest field of the day, it was still an intriguing race.
Favourite Limbering did not take the home turn as well as his connections would have liked, which opened the gap for the outsiders of the field, Sea Crossing and The Fourth Bridge.
Sea Crossing darted to the lead and held off The Fourth Bridge to score by a half length, with Limbering hanging on for third.
The winner is trained by Aileen Vanderfeen at Bendigo and was ridden by Randy Tan.
After the last event the $250 prize for jockey of the day, sponsored by Harvey Trotter Engineering, was presented to Richard Bensley who rode a winner and three placings.
The $250 trainer of the day, sponsored by Ash Realty, went to Nathan Hobson of Swan Hill, with a win and a third placing.
The club also announced the winner of the RA ‘Rabbit’ Campbell Memorial Trophy for Deniliquin jockey of the year, which was won by Robert Beattie.
Winner of the Mitre 10 wheelbarrow raffle was Karen Charlton, and runner-up was Barb Anderson. The $500 members’ draw was won by Greg Danckert.