HARRY Coffey piloted home the winner of the Millicent Cup last Sunday at Penola.
After riding at Flemington on the Saturday, Coffey added to his growing collection of country cups when he rode Evenmoreaction the following day.
Trained by Mount Gambier horseman Michael O’Leary, Evenmoreaction and Coffey will re-unite next Friday when they tackle the Mount Gambier Cup.
It was a big week for the talented Swan Hill apprentice who rode the Darren Weir-trained Siwa Lady into third place at Sandown on Wednesday.
Mildura focus
FOR the past seven years, the central focus of country trainers this time of year has been on the Mildura Cup Carnival.
After holding two Cup Carnivals last year, the Euston Club Resort Mildura Cup won’t be held in May this year for the first time in seven years.
It isn’t a bad move either.
Increased prize money and a greater likelihood of warmer weather mean the racing will be first rate, and the carnival atmosphere will be electric.
With the Trentham Estate Goblet Day kicking off the Carnival on Friday, August 30, and the Euston Club Resort Mildura Cup being run on Sunday, September 1, the Mildura Cup now holds the distinguished position of being Australia’s first major cup run in the spring.
Another win for DeMars
DEMARS, winner of both the Kerang Cup and Swan Hill Credit Union St Pat’s Cup, saluted the judge once again at Benalla last Saturday.
In a strong field, the Jim Lake-trained bay gelding showed amazing versatility.
After winning over 1800m at Swan Hill the previous week, rising apprentice Jye McNiel was able to push the nine-year-old to a hard fought victory over 1400 metres.
This horse just keeps on keeping on. He is certainly one to watch in the coming weeks.
Legends present
THERE will be a lot of sporting legends at the Murray Downs Golf and Country Club Swan Hill June Racing Carnival over the June long weekend.
Shane Hogan will probably be there. He played in 10 senior premierships for Nullawil.
Now that is legendary, but it isn’t quite as good as winning the Melbourne Cup. Excited rumours are flying round that the grand old stayer Subzero, who won the Melbourne Cup in 1992, will be a part of this year’s June Long Weekend.
While it seems almost certain the Old Champ will be around Swan Hill leading up to the three-day event, there is a strong chance he will also lead the field out for the running of the Murray Downs Swan Hill Cup on the Sunday.
Here’s hoping. All being well the hero is expected to travel to Mildura also earlier in the week prior to the Carnival’s commencement.
Packages available
IT ISN’T too late to jump onto the swanhill.countryracing.com.au website and check out the packages that are available for the $700,000 Murray Downs Golf and Country Club Swan Hill June Racing Carnival.
Anyone who has been there can tell you what a fantastic event it is.
One person who is there every year is Swan Hill trainer Austy Coffey.
I asked him the other day if he had a tip for the carnival.
Coffey’s reply was, “Keep the wood box full. It’s often cold that time of year.
Murray Mallee Racing news appears every second Monday in The Guardian.
