New South Wales Country Cups Carnival kicks off with Wagga

This year’s eagerly awaited New South Wales Country Cups gets under way this Friday evening with the running of the Listed $60,000 Bidgee at Wagga’s Riverina Paceway.

Patrons will be treated to a highly competitive night of racing with strong support races alongside the Bidgee.

The Bidgee is the seventh event of an eight race programme and has drawn together a highly competitive field of top line pacers.

The draw has the best qualified pacers on the second line which will give the less fancied runners some prospects from their front row draw and the 2800 metre journey is sure to prove a staying test.

Favourite is likely to be Don Hugo who will come who is drawn five off the second row. He resumed last Saturday night at Menangle when he was runner up to Captains Knock in the Italian Cup but trainer Luke McCarthy is sure to have the talented son of Art Major firing on all cylinders.

Captains Knock who beat home Don Hugo is a noted speedster but he has won over 2300 metres on three occasions in his outstanding career.

Catch A Wave has won eight Group 1 events and can improve on his recent efforts when beaten at his last three appearances at Melton. He’s drawn two on the second line and will be looking to take a forward position early.

Evergreen veteran Max Delight hasn’t had a great deal of luck in recent appearances in top class company and trainer David Aiken will have him primed for this event.

In addition to Captains Knock Brad Hewitt will have the highly promising Horn Player engaged. He was most impressive winning the Graham McNiece Memorial at Menangle last Saturday week and he possesses a brilliant turn of speed.

Bernie Hewitt has Ripp engaged and his third in last Saturday night’s Italian Cup was eye catching as he came from well back to storm home at the finish.

Those on the front line all seem evenly matched and the best prospect may be Rakajed to be driven by Cameron Hart. He looked sharp winning at Menangle last Saturday night is drawn to lead.

However it is expected that at some stage that one or two of the big guns on the second line will attack for the lead so the event will have plenty of action.

The other main feature on the evening will be the $75,000 Tab Regional Championship Final which has drawn a evenly matched competitive field.

Gates open at 4.30pm with the first of the eight races scheduled for 5.13pm. Attendance is free but require online registration that is available at the Riverina Paceway facebook site.

There will be live music in between races with headline acts The Superjesus and 1927 amongst other performers. All in all a top race meeting is assured at the Riverina’s leading harness racing venue.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink