Mid North Coast participation in the sensational $16.4 million The Everest—The Kosciuszko racehorse meeting at Royal Randwick on Saturday should be a major incentive for race-goers to be trackside at Wauchope Jockey Club’s “Old Boys” meeting at its Beechwood Road track on the same day.
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Our area has three guaranteed runners with another three among the nominations and the club’s home track is but one of a few selected to hold a race meeting on the honoured day in getting 48 nominations.
Port Macquarie trainer Jenny Graham has one of the favourites for the $1.3 million The Kosciuszko with four-year-old gelding Victorem whereas Wauchope trainer Colt Prosser is hoping for a start with seven-year-old gelding Prince Mayted.
Kendall resident, Taree trainer Wayne Wilkes received late good news with his six-year-old gelding Fuel being added to the Kosciuszko field.
The galloper won by 2.3 lengths over 1200m at Rosehill on September 26 and replaced an injured galloper.
Acceptors were not known at time of writing but the MNCRA also has three gallopers nominated in the late notified $100,000 Highway race for class 3 country only horses over 1400m at Randwick.
They are Prosser’s last start winner Phelpedo, Lucciola Belle from the Wilkes yard and Port Macquarie trainer Tas Morton’s O’Driscoll.
As it is, owners and supporters from our district are packing cars to be part of the expected bumper trackside crowd at Randwick.
Kempsey part-owner of Victorem, Rhonda Bannon, said she and her husband, Peter, would have been trackside at Randwick even if they didn’t have a horse running.
They said it was a magical day and deserved their attention, they also being very regular patrons to local race tracks.
Victorem has been purposely kept from competing in races since taking a spell after running a brave second in the 1400m Hawkesbury Guineas late April.
That run followed a dynamic win in the $500,000 Country Final at The Championships at Randwick on April 7, it being its fifth win from only seven starts with prizemoney and bonuses of $715,000 being won.
However, connections are “over the moon” with Victorem’s progress following trials and are thrilled with his condition and demeanour.
Prince Mayted was going to tackle the $50,000 sprint at the Port Macquarie Cup meeting but Prosser thought the 1200m wasn’t quite suitable and has kept his gelding for Randwick.
His mission is the $125,000 Benchmark 78 Handicap for three-year-olds and upwards over 1000m.
The gelding showed his prowess with a win over that distance on the Kensington track on September 5.
Prince Mayted’s last run was over 1100m at Rosehill on September 26 where he finished third.
The gelding will be having his 50th start on Saturday and so far has nine wins and 21 placings for prizemoney and bonuses around $304,000.
Not a bad effort for a band of Wauchope owners and friends who paid $200 a share for the gelding.
And many of those owners are in three-year-old gelding Jumper Leads ($3.80) which scored by just over five lengths over 1010m on a soft 7 rated track at Port Macquarie last Saturday.
It had run fourth to Victorem in a barrier trial at Taree and was having its first race start.
It is a half-brother to Prince Mayted and “maybe has more ability than him.”
A crowd is expected to fill the Beechwood Road headquarters of the Wauchope Jockey Club this Saturday to not only watch five local races but the big ones in Sydney.
The main race is named in honour of former race club stalwart and local identity-- called the Andy Neal Memorial Cup.
Prosser has nominated five gallopers among 48 for the meeting with acceptances being taken on Thursday.
