Above: Winning driver and trainer of Yarra Valley Pacing Cup winner, Blakey, John Justice with Yarra Valley Racing chairman Graeme Wood after the race.By Kath Gannaway
TOOLERNVALE-trained Blakey took out the $20,000 Yarra Valley Pacing Cup on Sunday in the first of Yarra Valley Racing’s twilight cup meetings.
Blakey is owned by S. G. Knowles of Tasmania.
Driver and trainer, John Justice of Toolernvale, accepted the SEW-Eurodrive Cup saying the horse put in a champion effort ahead of a strong field.
In another feature race on the program Danny Wood, driven by Gary Pekin of Stanhope and owned by N. L. Seymour and P. Kambouris took out the $6000 Yarra Valley Harness Committee Trotters Cup.
The move from the event’s traditional Easter time-slot to a January twilight meeting saw a packed program with a race every 20 minutes providing plenty of on-track action.
Off the track, patrons were entertained with exhibition pony trot races and activities for the kids as well as live music for the adults on the lawns.
The next meeting at Yarra Glen is on 17 February with two big events coming up in March with the family fun day on 11 March and the Yarra Glen Cup for thoroughbreds on 26 March.
