Swan Hill set to light up for big Cup night

Vibrant country Victorian harness racing club Swan Hill couldn’t be happier with a bumper lineup for its biggest event of the year, the Swan Hill Pacing and Trotters Cups tonight (Nov 1).

The Emma Stewart trained Like A Wildfire will undoubtedly be sent out a short-priced favorite in the $25,000 Swan Hill Pacing Cup on the back of a brave runner-up performance in a Melton FFA to the in-form Cantfindabettorman two weeks ago (Oct 19).

Mark Pitt has partnered Like A Wildfire for five of his 28 career wins, and the nine year old will be attempting to add the Swan Hill 2024 silverware to his Horsham, Terang and Charlton country Cups of 2022 and 23.

Although it appears on paper to be a match in two with the Andy Gath-trained South Australian Pacing Cup runner-up Hector (Kate Gath), the Cup is not without its X factors.

The Shane Sanderson-trained pair of Perfect Stride and Sahara Tiger along with Ash Herbertson’s Tiger Band Wagon will undoubtedly have their admirers.

“We’re absolutely delighted with the quality of the Cup and the fact that we’re holding a 10-race program,” club president Noel Watson said.

“It’s a full cup field with an emergency and promises to be a great event with some top-class horses from strong stables.”

The club was disappointed at the scratching of Great Southern Star winner Callmethebreeze from the Swan Hill Trotters Cup. Trainer Andy Gath is electing to put time into managing a flare up in a quarter crack, with the faint hope of still being able to fly to New Zealand next week to target key feature events later in the month.

“We would have loved to have Callmethebreeze here of course, but it’s actually going to be a terrific race – a really interesting contest with the in-form Virginia Clowers up against Parisian Artiste and Revelstoke,” Watson said.

Former New Zealander Virginia Clowers has hardly put a foot wrong since being left in the care of Brent Lilley. Revelstoke and Parisian Artiste look the main dangers, with the latter following up a recent impressive Bendigo trial win, with an eye-catching second placing behind superstar Just Believe at Melton.

He said the community interest in the Spring Carnival weekend feature was strong.

“The locals always get behind us, especially for the cup night and we already have 120 people booked in the upstairs dining room and we’ll have the popular punters club on again, hosted by top form analyst Darren Carroll,” Watson said.

“And because it’s around Halloween, we’ve gone with that theme again and there’ll be trick or treating and giveaways for the kids.  If last year is an indication, there will be plenty of children and their parents all getting dressed up – we were genuinely surprised by the mums and dads who got into it last year.

“We’re excited to also have excellent representation from Harness Racing Victoria with recently appointed chairman Bernard Saundry and his wife Samantha attending, along with board members Judy Rothacker and Dennis Bice.”

For complete race entries, click here

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink