St Arnaud shines on Cup Day full of spirit

St Arnaud Trots take a bow for rolling out a Cups meeting that’s a timely reminder of what’s great about country Victorian harness racing – perfect weather, atmosphere, competitive racing and feelgood success stories.

With the challenges facing the sport in Victoria, the St Arnaud Cup Day yesterday was undoubtedly facing some “headwinds” – but the club left no stone unturned in assuring the runaway success of its big day.

In addition to mobilising its community and sponsors around the event, the club tipped in its own funds to bolster stake money ($3000 each for the pacing and trotting cups, bringing them to the metro baseline of $15,000); texted every stable in the State to notify them of nomination deadlines; and incentivised trainers with $50 fuel vouchers and $2000 trainer and driver bonuses.

It was a model performance from a club that has limited resources, but boundless enthusiasm for retaining a key event in its community of 3000 people.

And the effort was rewarded with a big attendance and full race fields – 11 races, most with near-maximum fields – and competitive racing around the half-mile Lord Nelson Park circuit.

Some of the State’s major stables made the journey to the northcentral Victorian track on Sunday (Nov 10), and the Brent Lilley team made it back-to-back St Arnaud Sporting Club Trotters’ Cups.

Six-year-old gelding Kyvalley Heist (Muscle Mass) was rewarded for a bold drive by reinsman Tristan Larsen, scoring by three metres from Berriesandcherries (Donna Castles) and Love Ya Brother (Matthew Craven).

After getting away safely from his front-row draw, when the field settled, Larsen pinged Kyvalley Heist to the front, and never looked in doubt.

“He went really well.  A few had a go, but he has a good sprint, and once I got to the front I didn’t have to do much – I thought if I got to the front, it would be game over, and thankfully that’s the way it was,” Larsen said.

“They put on a great day here, and it’s a pleasure to be part of it,” he said.

Southwest Victorian horseman Matthew Craven had the Weir’s IGA and Liquor St Arnaud Pacing Cup in his sights when he made the trek to St Arnaud from his home base at Terang with speedy four-year-old Young Bluey (Betting Line).

The gelding looked a generous price at $2 favorite after his last start third behind Cantfindabettorman at Melton in the $50,000 four- and five-year-old championship and duly recorded his seventh win from 29 starts.

Craven worked Young Bluey to the front from his outside barrier 6 after 300 metres, and was never troubled, scoring by 12 metres, and scorching around St Arnaud in a 1:57 (last half 56.2), setting a new track record in the process.

“He’s been following some pretty good horses at a pretty good tempo, so this looked a bit of a drop in class for him,” Craven said.

“If we can just poke him around in a few Country Cups it would just be ideal.  If I can keep him on the straight and narrow then this time next year he might just develop a bit,” he said.

Young Bluey is raced by the Hey True Blue syndicate, with a big group of the owners on track for the win.

“It’s been a great day here and the efforts of the club are much appreciated.  On behalf of all the owners thanks to the whole St Arnaud Club. It takes a lot of volunteers to make a day like this happen, they couldn’t have got better weather, and it was great to get a winner here for some lovely people,” Craven said.

For complete race results, click here.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink