HORSE RACING
By LIAM DURKIN
WHAT’S in a name.
Six-year-old gelding Howlin’ Rain carried a somewhat facetious undertone on the way to winning this year’s Moe Cup.
The historic meeting, held on a Sunday for the first time, saw Logan Bates steer home the winner for Cranbourne-based trainer Cindy Anderson in commanding fashion by nearly three lengths.
Howlin’ Rain jumped well and led from start to finish across 2050 metres in the eight-horse race.
Star Vega and Ghetto Superstar had to make do with podium finishes, while Red On Red, trained by Moe’s John Pascoe and carrying local optimism at $14.00, came sixth.
Fifth-placed Staunched looked beaten as horses turned into the final straight, and as racecaller Adam Oslanski wonderfully put, the finish was a “one act affair, Howlin’ Rain in the howling wind,” once the gelding put on the afterburners.
The win returned no great surprises, with Howlin’ Rain the pre-race favourite at $3.60.
Traralgon jockey Thomas Stockdale rode in the cup, coming seventh on board Glentaneous.
Clearly proud to be riding in the race, he held his hand over his heart as the national anthem was sung by Gippslander Mick Harrington (of The Voice fame) before taking to the track.
ELSEWHERE, the meeting was highlighted by a track record being set for a 1000m sprint on the club’s StrathAyr surface, after Speir won the Race 4 Bidfood Handicap in 58 seconds.
Remember Poppy won the Race 2 Ian Grants Caravans Maiden Plate (1100m), and Stockdale rode the winner of the Race 3 Clearview Radiology Maiden Plate (1600m) on board Taxing.
Real Alliance won the Race 6 TRFM Handicap (1600m), Peacon the Race 7 Nextra Moe Sprint (1200m) and Fridge Monster the Race 9 Bottlemart Moe Handicap (1600m).
The meeting started with the track rated a Soft 5, upgraded to a Good 4 by Race 3.
MOE Racing Club staff would have slept well last Sunday night.
And deservedly so.
All hands on deck ensured another successful Moe Cup, showcasing the best that country racing has to offer.
If the move to a Sunday meeting was seen as dangerous in the eyes of even the staunchest traditionalists, such fears were surely quelled by meeting’s end.
Thousands gathered for what could have been termed a ‘pleasant Sunday afternoon’, that started in typically subdued fashion and ended with great frivolity after the last race.
Early showers threatened a tired Moe Cup weather cliché, yet from Race 1 onwards, hardly a drop of water fell.
There was still rain on Moe Cup day – it’s just that it only came right at the very start and right at the very end, at which time racing had finished anyway (mind you, it absolutely pelted down around 8pm).
If ever there was a sign of a new era for Moe cups – that may well have been it. Rain bookending the meeting, but never putting it in jeopardy.
The Sunday turnout would have undoubtedly pleased organisers, who also undoubtedly received no shortage of advice when the decision was made to hold a weekend Moe Cup for the first time ever.
The timing however was not without careful planning. Not only did a Sunday meeting allow more families the chance to attend, but a construction RDO the following day also ensured people from various industries could let their hair down.
Speaking of hair, Fashions on the Field attracted a strong crowd and plenty of colour, as locals and out-of-towners vied for sashes.
Elis Crewes travelled from Montrose and won best dressed lady, while Richmond’s Michael McAlpine took home best dressed male.
Dignitaries gathered for the chairman’s luncheon in the upstairs function room, including Member for Monash Mary Aldred, sporting a horseshoe necklace, Member for Morwell Martin Cameron, and Latrobe City councillors Sharon Gibson and Adele Pugsley.
Moe Racing Club Chairman Mike Vanderfeen wished to thank all who made this year’s Moe Cup a resounding success.
“The organisation for this cup, I’ve never seen the team work so harmoniously, led by Cassandra (Moe Racing Club Chief Executive Cassandra Rendell), was a fantastic job,” he said.
“The crowd is up to our expectations, we had well over 1000 bookings before it started. Because the rain held off we were able to get those walk-ins.
“We believe it’s something we can build on now for the families, the people have enjoyed the Sunday, they are quite happy about it.”
The crowd packed Turfside for the afterparty, so much so even this writer couldn’t use his media powers to get straight in.
“One in, one out,” came the blunt reply.
Turns out you can’t get into absolutely everywhere with a camera.
Now onto the Traralgon Cup, which will be held Sunday, November 30.
