IT is a Country Showcase meeting by name and if the nominations the Bathurst Thoroughbred Racing has received is any indication, Sunday’s meeting at Tyers Park will a showcase in nature too.
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The highlight of the richest meeting staged at Tyers Park each year is the $50,000 Bathurst Cup, but each of the other seven races on program offers a purse of at least $30,000 given it’s Racing NSW Country Showcase status.
As such, when the nominations were declared on Tuesday, Bathurst Thoroughbred Racing manager Michelle Tarpenning saw strong fields of quality runners. Good support has come from Central West trainers and metropolitan stables alike.
“We are very happy with the noms for this meeting, there are a few double nominations in there, particularly from our local boys Peter Stanley and the Ryan boys [Don and Andrew],” Tarpenning said.
“This is our second biggest race meeting ... so it’s a big day for the club and a lot of effort goes into making this a success. The Soldiers Saddle is our biggest meeting in terms of crowd, but in terms of racing, this is the biggest of the year, if you want to see quality racing this is it.
“I think the prize money is such a great thing, we have to thank Racing NSW for coming up with this showcase innovation. I think if you look at our noms, you can see that people have really embraced the concept, it’s great that they have the chance to get some good prize money in the country.”
Last year the 1,800 metres Bathurst Cup was won by the Rob Potter trained Murraguldrie, the $3 equal favourite storming home in a brilliant last-to-first finish.
While Murraguldrie will not return on Sunday, the feature race has attracted a quality field.
“We don’t have any returning winners for the cup which is a shame as it’s always nice to see someone there trying to defend it,” Tarpenning said.
“But the field is excellent. Our only local in there is from Don and Andrew Ryan, they’ve got Nurture, and we always back our local boys to try and win our major races. It will be tough though because we’ve got a lot of quality, Bjorn Baker has a couple runners and he brings a lot of experience.”
A five-year-old mare, Nurture has had six prior starts at her home track for a win and two runner-up finishes. Importantly, that win came over the same distance as Sunday’s feature.
Former Bathurst resident and now leading Warwick Farm trainer Baker has nominated two last-start winners in Allez Bien and Show A Star.
Baker has enjoyed plenty of success at Tyers Park meetings of late and will be hoping that trend continues.
Acceptances for the bumper meeting will be declared on Thursday.
