Coffs Harbour Racing Club has been blessed with stunning weather and strong support from trainers, owners, and jockeys ahead of Friday’s Coffs Harbour Cup meeting.
With 126 acceptances on the eight-race Showcase card, the $150,000 Moonee Beach Hotel Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m) headlines the program, along with the $50,000 Daniel Baker Showcase print (1200m), the $50,000 Ken Howard Showcase Cup (2000m) and the $50,000 Merv Mercer Showcase Mile (1600m).
“It’s our biggest day of the year,” Coffs Harbour Racing Club CEO Tim Saladine said.
“We’ve got great fields coming from far and wide, our Coffs Harbour Cup Big Dance qualifier, and we’ve had big sales on corporate tickets, and we’ve got general admission tickets for anyone wanting to come out for a great day’s racing.”
Following the successful running of the club’s Sawtell Cup meeting on July 23, everything points towards a good day’s racing on Friday, with the course proper currently a soft five while the rail is in its true position.
“We were washed out last year with the Sawtell Cup, and to get a full meeting and a good crowd was great,” Saladine said.
“It’s been the driest winter we’ve had for a long time, and being Coffs, we get a shower every now and then, meaning there’s some give in it, but the track has never looked as good at this time of year.”
A capacity field will contest the time-honoured Coffs Harbour Cup, and with the top two placegetters earning a chance to compete in the $3 million Big Dance and $750,000 Little Dance at Royal Randwick on the first Tuesday in November, it’s a quality assortment of NSW and QLD gallopers.
In an open race, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Stonecoat (Rachel King, $4.20) is the favourite ahead of the Joe Pride-trained King of the Castle ($5.50).
2022 winner Hosier (Ash Morgan, $7.50) from the Mark Minervini yard will be out to defend his crown, while last year’s runner-up, The Ritz (Anthony Allen, $10) from the Michael Morrison yard, will have his admirers.
“I’ve been here eight years, and it’s the strongest cup I’ve seen,” Saladine said.
“Hosier is trying to go back-to-back, and Kris (Lees) is trying to win it for three years in a row, and then a horse like Point Counterpoint for Stirling (Osland) has to be a chance; he was a good winner of the Ballina Cup.
“Michael Morrison is back again with The Ritz, and it ran an excellent second last year, and with a full field of 14, at this time of year, it’s a good result for the club.”
While racing will take centre stage at Coffs Harbour, plenty will be happening off-track, with gates opening from 10.30 am for members and 11 am for the general public.
Racing commences at 12:20 pm, and more on the race day, click here.
For fields, click here. For markets, click here.
NSW Country and Picnic Racing Coffs Harbour Cup tips
Race 1, #4 Talma I Love Her – $4.20
Race 2, #11 Soju Session – $5.50
Race 3, #7 Scotland – $3.10
Race 4, #5 Listen To Maurice – $7.50
Race 5, #6 Roller Coaster – $3.10
Race 6, #1 Greyworm – $8.50
Race 7, #11 Stonecoat – $4.20
Race 8, #2 Convincebility – $3.10
