GREAT family fun and entertainment can be expected at Bunbury Turf Club’s big Australia Day meeting next Monday, January 26, when the club will present an attractive eight event card.
It will be highlighted by the running of the renowned 66+ rating $30,000 South West Summer Sizzle for horses 3yo and up over 1200 metres.
The race was won in great style last year by the Lindsay Smith trained Amorino when ridden by WA’s top jockey William Pike and this year’s race promises to be no less a spectacle.
There will be a support card of seven races including four handicaps, a Westspeed Maiden for three year olds and just two other maidens leaving no excuse for punters not to get along and support a great day at the gallops.
It was a big weekend for Bunbury owned and trained horses last weekend when local horses won major races in Perth and Mount Barker and several others put in strong performances in preparation for the upcoming South West Autumn Carnival in March.
The Michael Lane trained Cougar Nights was an impressive winner of the Magic Millions over1400 metres at Ascot and Volkoff trained by Gary Crispin was desperately unlucky at the same meeting when going down by the shortest of margins to Red Ora.
Our Brucie Bonus for Peter and Mat Giadresco also ran second in a 1500 metre event and Foxalicious although a little disappointing for Ross and Clint Price ran a creditable fourth as did Christine Stalmach’s Mr Balfire.
Tick Tick Bloom was an ultra impressive winner at Ascot on Saturday and she is heading towards the Bunbury Cup while new sprint star Black Heart Bart is targeting the Bunbury Stakes.
These horses along with other top class performers expected to nominate should ensure the on field success of carnival.
Bunbury was also well represented at the big $100,000 Mungrup Stud Sprint meeting at Mount Barker on Sunday where the Mark Bairstow trained Toned won the lead up Race to the sprint with the Bayliss family owned Toned who was an impressive winner beating another locally owned horse in Insurgency over 2000 metres and may also be headed to the Bunbury Cup.
Other locals to perform well were Ross and Clint Price trained Gold Flight and Elsie’s Rhapsody both of whom ran second when both were ridden by Bunbury jockey Kyra Yuill.
The $100,000 Mungrup Stud Sprint was won by last Start Perth winner Dawn Approach for trained Vaughan Sigley and jockey Takahide Ikenushi.
Racing enthusiasts are reminded that the South West Autumn Carnival is just around the corner and Bunbury Turf Club is now taking bookings for available packages.
The carnival commences on Sunday, March 1, with the AHA Cup followed by the Country Cups Jimmy Barnes at Bayside Beats concert on Friday March 6, then by Bunbury Stakes Day Sunday, March 8, and Bunbury Cup Thursday, March 12.
Don’t forget Nina’s Fashions on the Field event.
See you trackside.