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NEWS RELEASE
MR HORNBLOWER TAKES PM’S CUP AFTER SUCCESSFUL PROTEST
FULMONTI BEARS ALL FOR LAST GASP HOLLINDALE STAKES WIN
Over 5000 people flock to Bundall track;
Crowd figure 20% up on last year;
Tote up over $100,000 on 2008.
Date released: Saturday 2nd May 2009.
TODAY’S $175,000 Listed 1300m Carlton Draught Prime Minister’s Cup on the Gold Coast was decided on a protest after Mr Hornblower successfully proved interference 200m from home against first-across-the-line Rightfully Yours.
Connections and punters had to wait almost 30 minutes for the result which when upheld reversed the first and second placings.
Mr Hornblower was ridden by Glen Colless and is trained by Tracey Green at Doomben.
In all respects it was a classic Prime Minister’s Cup.
Rightfully Yours started fast and sat nicely as local hope Rasmussen (Michael Palmer) led the field in and out of the turn. Mr Hornblower (Glen Colless) then joined in the action along with El Cambio (Kerrin McEvoy).
But the pace in the straight was too much for Rasmussen who dropped off in the final 250 metres, leaving it a race in three for the placings.
Top weight El Cambio took third while last year’s winner Helideck was never in the race.
Earlier, a six-year-old rank outsider took out the $300,000 weight for age Group 2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes.
Fulmonti, ridden by Joe Bowditch and trained by Doomben-based former Kiwi rugby league international Chris Jordan, staged a late run to get its head in front right on the line and take the richest spoils of the day by a half neck.
Sir Slick (Glen Colless) led for 1700m of the 1800m journey but was relegated to third by three quarters of a length in the shadows of the post after Fulmonti and second placegetter Izonit (James McDonald) came storming over the top.
Underpinning the ever-growing international attraction of the event, all three placegetters are New Zealand-bred horses - the winner paying a handsome $36.20 on the tote.
Over 5000 people headed to the Bundall track to catch the action, 20% up on last year. They also spent more than $100,000 more on the tote than in 2008.
The program, widely considered one of the best in the 36-year history of the event, got off to a suitably exciting start with photo finishes in the first two races on the card.
Kerrin McEvoy steered the Michael Maroney-trained filly Prix Du Sang to a half neck win in the Southern Cross Ten Handicap while Palace Lover with apprentice Brent Evans on board took out the Gold Coast Football Club Handicap by a half head from Gold Coast fancy Worth Doing (Matthew Palmer).
It was the first of a double for Evans and Toowoomba trainer Michael Nolan who also combined to take out the Heinrich Group Gold Coast Guineas with unbeaten filly Chakvetadze by a long neck over Leapfrog (Luke Rolls) and fellow fancy Desuetude (Kerrin McEvoy).
It was the biggest win in Evan’s career and was completed after his mount, forced to back off at the turn, made its perfectly-timed winning run on the outside.
Facile Tiger (Eddie Wilkinson) lead from start to finish to salute in the Culpans Electrical Ken Russell Memorial Classic while in the H.Harvey Prestige Gold Coast Bracelet, the heavily-backed Marveen (Blake Shinn) kept the close finishes coming with victory by a neck over New Zealander La Etoile (Michael Rodd) and Miss Darcey (Corey Brown).
In the final race of the day Blake Shinn rode a double aboard the Gai Waterhouse-trained Belong to Many ($10) in the Attwood Marshall Lawyers Silk Stocking over 1200 metres.
Gold Coast Turf Club Chief Executive John Cameron said his club is ecstatic at how positive everyone has been today about the event.
“We’ve seen greatly increased corporate function sales, a crowd well above our expectations and some of the best racing and biggest fields on our track in years,” Mr Cameron said.
“We’ve horses and racing people here today from as far away as New Zealand and Western Australia and indeed every part of the country.
“This raceday and the Gold Coast Turf Club are an integral part of the local sports and tourism leisure industry and today is a day of which the Gold Coast community can be justifiably proud,” he said.
Off the racetrack proper, the fashion fillies were also out in force with two of the three Fashions on the Field winners enjoying a ‘purple patch’.
Sovereign Jewellery proprietor Pamela Larsen donned a double-buttoned deep purple Covers frock, purple leather gloves and hat from Brisbane’s The Hat Box, a purple Prada handbag and Guess shoes to be named Best Dressed Female.
She took away an Ambassador Travel trip for two to Crown Oaks Day in Melbourne, an overnight accommodation package at Conrad Jupiters Casino and gifts from the Academy of Makeup, Babor, Marcus Edward Hairdressers and Roses only.
Pamela said she entered the competition on a whim after friends were late to meet her on course.
“They were late getting to the Dome, and some other people there said I should enter, so I did,” she said.
Varsity Lakes environmental manager and Best Dressed Man, Troy Martin (29), kept the lucky colour trend going when he wore a purple accented blue suit, purple tie, bright purple pork pie hat and Stacey Adams shoes.
He won a $500 voucher from Ed Harry Menswear, overnight accommodation at Conrad Jupiters Casino and hairdressing and skincare prizes.
And in a double of sorts for The Hat Box, Bundall’s Alanna Loveless scored an accommodation and beauty prize package valued at over $1500 after being judged wearer of the Best Hat.
The self-confessed “hat lover” who turns 28 on Wednesday won with a stunning white netted pill box and said she generally chooses the hat first and then the rest of her clothing ensemble.
“It drives me crazy sometimes. Normally it’s the other way around, but it certainly makes for interesting shopping excursions,” she said.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
John Cameron
Chief Executive Officer
Gold Coast Turf Club
0755 381 599
0416 127 222
Wayne Hickson
HicksonMedia
07 5591 2556
0407 028 917 |
