Caulfield-based trainer Nick Ryan had a field day at the 2025 Echuca Cup when his horses Big Me and Red Phantom claimed the two major races on the day.
Nearly 3000 attendees converged at Echuca Racing Club for the biggest race meet on the town’s calendar.
Despite some bouts of overcast weather, people were upbeat and enjoyed the range of activities and hospitality packages on offer.
The Piano Bar, Party Paddock, Pavilion and umbrellas were full of keen racegoers who witnessed local and visiting jockeys and horses battle it out on the track.
A line-up of talented musicians such as Darcy Ramage, Joss Russell and DJ Seth kept the good times flowing as spectators enjoyed drinks and food throughout the day.
There was also plenty for the kids to do with a mechanical bull, rock climbing wall, jumping castle and water slide just some of the many activities around the grounds.
“The crowd is well up from last year, so the numbers have been really good,” Echuca Racing Club track manager Jarratt Farley said on Sunday.
“The Piano Bar has been going along really nicely, the atmosphere in there is awesome and the Party Paddock is rocking and rolling too.
“Everywhere you go, everyone seems to be having a fantastic day and contributes really well to a great atmosphere.
“Today has ticked all the boxes we wanted to, you always want more people, but we are pleased with how the day has gone.”
On the track, it was Ryan and jockey Rhys McLeod’s day, with the pair getting a slew of strong results.
Ryan walked away with three winners, starting with back-to-back champions Big Me in race four, the Mackenzie Family Shadoways Sprint, and Dirty Grin in race five, the Echuca Toyota BM64.
The major ticket for Ryan came in the marquee race, the Moama Bowling Club Echuca Cup, which was won by his six-year-old gelding Red Phantom with Jake Duffy on board. His four-year-old gelding Capper thirtynine took out second.
McLeod rode two winners including The Bantam in race one, the Good Friday Country Discovery Race Day Maiden Plate, and Ryan’s Big Me in the Shadoways Sprint.
The jockey also claimed two seconds, including a ride on local trainer Rhys Archard’s Elegant Man in race two, as well as a pair of third placings and a fifth.
It was a slightly different story for local trainers Archard and Gwenda Johnstone, with neither managing to pull off a victory despite each entering half of the races.
Archard’s best results came with the back-to-back second places of Elegant Man and Sandwina in race three.
Meanwhile, Johnstone’s Bon Shadow came second in the Shadoways Sprint and Got Out The Fence claimed third in the following race.
Local jockey Rose Hammond failed to make an impression after bursting on to the scene at last year’s meeting by winning race three aboard Mr Saxabeat.
Hammond’s only two runs of the day were in races one and four, where she finished eighth and ninth, respectively.
“The local trainers have been pretty good and featured in the placings in a few races, so that is great for local racing,” Farley said.
“The Echuca Cup is our biggest race day on the calendar and I think the quality of the racing and off-track entertainment has really held up to the occasion.
“Our renovations we’ve done have definitely paid off. We wanted to up the standard of our facilities so we could give spectators the best possible day out we could.”
Next on the agenda for Echuca Racing Club is the Good Friday Country Discovery Race Day on Friday, April 18, which promises to be a more relaxed and casual event.