Horsham Cup back on track
Horsham Cup organisers are thrilled with the success of the race’s return to a Sunday running and believe patronage will rise in future years as a result.
Sunday’s cup, which was won by Darren Weir-trained Another Coldie, has been run on Friday for the past four years due to a Racing Victoria scheduling clash.
Horsham and District Racing Club manager Lisa Inkster said attendance at the cup had dwindled since the switch to Friday, but a crowd of about 1500 had turned out at the weekend.
“We were rapt with the change back to a Sunday. We were really happy with all the local and business support,” she said.
“We had a good thing going when the cup was on Sunday before, and we think it will be a good thing again.
“There was a different vibe on the course to the past few years when we’ve had it on a Friday.
“Maybe people were in that weekend headspace.”
Inkster said she expected attendance would continue to increase in future years as patrons become reacclimated to the Sunday date.
The $60,000 feature race was another success for legendary Horsham jockey Dean Yendall, who piloted Another Coldie to claim his first Horsham Cup victory since 2009.
The five-year-old was well-placed throughout the race and Yendall made his move with less than 500 metres to go, coasting home by three-and-a-half lengths from stablemate Top Prospect.
It marked Weir’s first ever Horsham Cup victory.
Last year’s winner Our Bottino finished well back in seventh place and Horsham trainer Paul Preusker’s Miss Coolangatta could not live up to pre-race favouritism, finishing fifth.
Preusker did not come away from the day empty-handed however, claiming three victories at the eight-race meeting.
Mrs Inkster said the day was also a success off the track, with a fashions on the field competition proving a big hit with racegoers.
She said there was plenty of interest surrounding guest judge Eliza Icke, a wellknown fashions personality who competed at Saturday’s Caulfield Cup meeting.
“There were heaps of entrants – we had to bring in an honourable mention category because it could have gone to any of the top five,” she said.
“It was great to see so many people entering and it was good to have Eliza creating a bit of interest.”
Warrnambool’s Leah Habel was named lady of the day, with Travis Cowan adjudged the best dressed man.
Horsham’s Nadine and Phillip Short took home the best dressed couple award.
The fashions featured a millinery category for the first time and a children’s category. “There were kids acts in the car park and the kid’s fashions went really well,” Mrs Inkster said.
“You could tell they loved to dress up.”