A FORMER champion had hopes for a consecutive win dashed as intense racing action hit the track at Healesville last weekend.
About 3500 people attended the Healesville Cup racing event on 11 January at the Healesville race track with riders facing off in six races.
Last year’s cup winner, Guadalcanal, placed sixth in the drawcard 1650 metre event, losing to Spinning Tune, who was ridden by premiership-winning picnic rider Adam Bodey.
The cup winner took home $4000, while winners of the other races won $3000.
President of Healesville Amateur Racing Club David Purcell said that he was thrilled with the magnitude of the crowd which included waves of families and fresh-faced visitors to the valley.
“It was an exceptional day – it exceeded our expectations,” he said.
“We were thrilled with the response by the public, by the horse trainers and jockeys.”
The annual event included children’s activities, such as running races, pony rides, mini-golf and an animal farm, along with a vintage hot rod display for bigger kids.
The results for the day were:
Race one: 1 Estambul or Bust, 2 Spirit Eyes, 3 Vixenite, 4 The Blue Angel, 5 Floatlikabutterfly, 6 Keltic Light.
Race two: 1 Lou Lou Star, 2 Bayfury, 3 Theme Songs, 4 Gungnir, 5 Touch of Burst, 6 Royal Diva, 7 Aunty Janine.
Race three: 1 Dubai Opera, 2 Our Hussey, 3 Parvenu, 4 Almighty Flash.
Race four: 1 Queen Liberty, 2 Riverbank Dee, 3 Love to Learn, 4 El Sali.
Race five: (Healesville Cup): 1 Spinning Tune, 2 Heartofthedevil, 3 Strategic Impact, 4 Chancery Downs, 5 Gaja, 6 Guadalcanal, 7 Mr Jomar, 8 Broken Jaw, 9 Princess Fubu.
Race six: 1 Chosen Place, 2 Shanghai Rooster, 3 Recriminate, 4 Kahn the Tiges, 5 Roze of Envy, 6 Cochin.
