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The stage is set for the running of the Group 3 $60,000 The Weekly Advertiser Horsham Pacing Cup on Sunday afternoon with the bumper 10-race card of harness racing action set to start at 12.01pm, with the cup at 4.09pm.
With a predicted max of 27 degrees and a light breeze, it’s going to be absolutely perfect for patrons to picnic on the grass and enjoy the free, family friendly, fun for all ages community event.
“The cup field is of terrific quality and thoroughly deserving of its Group status,” club president Terry Lewis said.
“The 10 horses have collectively won 150 races and around $2,400,000 in stakes, so it promises to be a super contest.”
Lewis and his brother, David, have bred and raced a number of classy pacers over their long journey but are yet to secure a Horsham Pacing Cup trophy after several attempts.
The ‘Team Lewis’ silverware collection includes a 2012 SA Italian Cup, 2012 Charlton Pacing Cup, 2009 Canberra Cup and 2003 St Arnaud Cup won by proven performers Abettorpunt (23 wins), Master Of Disguise (27 wins) and Frosty Bulldog (12 wins) and, although the three horses attempted a Horsham Pacing Cup victory, it wasn’t to be.
Victory in a country cup is like winning a grand final, you have to be good enough to make it onto the big stage but so is the opposition – in the end it comes down to the best performed on the day and when things get close, the difference between winning and losing is often a helpful nod or two from lady luck.
The Lewis’ lightly raced six-year-old gelding Kowalski Analysis will line up on Sunday with now regular driver Glen Craven in the sulky. The winner of eight races and $150,000 in stakes has faced the starter on just 32 occasions over nearly four years due to illness and injury but is back to his best and from the favourable draw should be right there at the finish.
The powerful Emma Stewart/Clayton Tonkin barn has snared five of the last seven Horsham Pacing ups. They will have four starters on Sunday – Major Moth (4), Cant Top This (5), Idyllic (6) and Like A Wildfire (8) – with each of the quartet boasting the necessary credentials to emerge from the contest as the winner.
Cant Top This was placed in last month’s Hamilton Pacing Cup and it may pay to forgive last week’s unplaced effort at Melton.
As a two-year-old, stablemate Major Moth made a clean sweep of the Breeders Crown heat, semi and final and during his three-year-old campaign he captured a heat of the Victorian Derby before enduring a torrid trip in the final.
After suffering an injury and a lengthy time out, the stallion reeled off three consecutive wins at Melton to be a hot-favourite for the four-year-old Vicbred Super Series Final, but unfortunately, was a late withdrawal.
Idyllic’s star also shone brightly during his juvenile season before going amiss and off the scene for nearly 17 months. The beautifully bred entire has the class to take out the Cup in what would be a dream result for Horsham part-owner Daryl Edwards and course photographer Ian Woolridge.
Helluva may well be the wildcard in this year’s Cup. The former Kiwi won a standing start race at Ashburton over 2400m as a three-year-old then crossed the ditch in January 2021 to join the John Justice stable.
In 23 starts for the gold and blue silks Helluva has notched up nine wins and four minors and steadily improved each time the bar’s been raised. Justice isn’t scared to take on a race by the scruff of the neck and it will be interesting to see what tactics he employs with the tough bay gelding.
This year’s Cup line-up sees an interesting mix of rising stars and proven warhorses – aforementioned Kowalski Analysis, Helluva, Major Moth, Cant Top This and Idyllic to lock horns with Radius (1), Pacific Voyage (7), Like A Wildfire (8), A Gs White Socks (9) and Bulletproof Boy (10).
Veteran campaigner and former New Zealander A Gs White Socks is now with the Myrniong team of Jess Tubbs and Greg Sugars. The winner of $600,000 in stakes was far from disgraced during the Inter Dominion heats and showed there’s still plenty of life in his nine-year-old legs with creditable efforts recently in the Casey Classic and The Pure Steel at Melton.
The nine supporting events are also very strong and post-race will see inscribed rug presentations made by sponsor reps from Locks Constructions, Wimmera Aquatrail, Traction Ag, West Side, Horsham Doors & Glass, Samios, DM&D Horsham/Nhill, Carbine Chemicals and Shelton & Lane.
MY CUP SELECTIONS: 1st Kowalski Analysis, 2nd Major Moth, 3rd A GS White Socks, 4th Helluva.
All adult patrons on Sunday are in with a chance to take home $1000 cash in the Traction Ag Owner for a Day competition. The 11 lucky ‘owners’ will be drawn from a barrel and each allocated a horse engaged in the final event on the program – and to the victor, go the spoils.
Racegoers will enjoy live music from the very popular Darren Wardle & Jeff Woodward duo.
The children will be well looked after with free showbags, colouring books, jumping castle, face painting and prize draws while Poppy The Horse will give away icy poles and sweets.
The HRV Hero life after racing horses from Monivae Park Hamilton will lead the field on to the track for the running of 2023 The Weekly Advertiser Horsham Pacing Cup and be available for everyone to meet and greet during the day.
BYO is permitted in responsible quantities on the grassed areas only and with no glass.
Jen’s Canteen at the foot of the judge’s tower, Lions Club BBQ and West Side Cafe & Bistro will take care of those who don’t pack the picnic basket.
For those who like a flutter the on-course TAB will provide a full service or you can simply let the Carroll Bros. manage your small investment in the ever-popular Punters Club and follow your fortunes throughout the afternoon.
So get your backside trackside and see Sunday at the Cup!
For complete race entries, click here.
by Tony Logan, for Harness Racing New South Wales
