With the dust now settled on Claidheamh Mor’s emotion charged win in the inaugural Victorian Country Cups Final at Caulfield last month, the race to secure a berth in the 2024 edition is already gathering momentum.
Six qualifiers have been run thus far in the 2023-24 Victorian Country Cups Series and a further three Country Cups will be showcased across the state this weekend.
The $500,000 Sportsbet Ballarat Cup (2000m) takes centre stage on Saturday, while the $150,000 TAB Werribee Cup (1600m) and the rescheduled $70,000 bet365 Traralgon Cup (1900m) share top billing on Sunday.
With points to again be awarded on a 5-2-1 basis for the first three horses’ home in each of Victoria’s professional Country Cups, the weekend features carry added currency beyond their advertised stake.
Connections of runners in each of the three Country Cups will have the chance to gain an early march on their rivals in the race to secure a start in the lucrative 2024 Victorian Country Cups Final next Spring Racing Carnival.
Those to have claimed the maximum five points with Country Cup wins in recent weeks are Station One (Dunkeld, 18 November), Mister Me (Donald, 19 November), Another One (Wodonga, 24 November), Charterhouse (Cranbourne, 25 November), Glitter N Gold (Penshurst, 25 November) and Soaring Eagle (Tatura, 25 November).
Both Station One (Liam Howley) and Mister Me (Symon Wilde) will get their chance to assume an early outright lead in the series having accepted for the Traralgon and Werribee Cups respectively.
Among Station One’s rivals in the Traralgon Cup is defending champion Starspangled Baby (Andrew Perdon) who finished unplaced in the Country Cups Final behind Claidheamh Mor at her last start on 18 November.
Ahead of her in the $500,000 final were minor placegetters Red Sun Sensation (Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman) and Captain Envious (Paul Preusker) who will be looking to continue their good form in the Ballarat Cup.
Their rivals will include last month’s Cranbourne Cup (1600m) placegetters Foxy Cleopatra (Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young) and Just Folk (Gavin Bedggood), along with last start Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) placegetter Young Werther (Danny O’Brien) and the in-form Ain’tnodeeldun (Anthony & Sam Freedman).
Recent Seymour Cup (1600m) winner Junipal and placegetter Ascension, both members of the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable, share topweight of 60kg in the Werribee Cup.
Matt Welsh, RV’s Executive General Manager – Racing, said: “It’s great to officially start our summer of racing with Country Cup meetings at Ballarat, Werribee and Traralgon.
“The inaugural Victorian Country Cups Series was a huge success and the joy it brought winning trainer Gemma Reilly and the owners of Claidheamh Mor was something to behold.
“The foundation has been laid for the 2023-24 series with six Country Cups already run and its pleasing to see six different stables enjoying success in those features.
“The horses competing in this weekend’s Country Cups can set up their racing program for the next 12 months by grabbing valuable early points in the series.”
The current leaderboard as of 7 December 2023 is as follows:
|
No.
|
Horse
|
Points
|
Prizemoney
|
|
1
|
Charterhouse (GB)
|
5
|
$300,000
|
|
2
|
Another One
|
5
|
$55,000
|
|
3
|
Mister Me
|
5
|
$38,500
|
|
4
|
Soaring Eagle
|
5
|
$27,500
|
|
4
|
Station One
|
5
|
$27,500
|
|
6
|
Glitter 'N' Gold
|
5
|
$16,500
|
|
7
|
Foxy Cleopatra
|
2
|
$90,000
|
|
8
|
Bianco Vilano
|
2
|
$18,000
|
|
9
|
Extra Elusive(GB)
|
2
|
$12,600
|
|
10
|
Blazerro
|
2
|
$9,000
|
|
10
|
Ziggi Rocks
|
2
|
$9,000
|
|
12
|
Valley Forge (GB)
|
2
|
$5,400
|
|
13
|
Just Folk
|
1
|
$45,000
|
|
14
|
Ferlaxing
|
1
|
$9,000
|
|
15
|
Chartres
|
1
|
$6,300
|
|
16
|
Fighting Arrow
|
1
|
$4,500
|
|
16
|
Pitchanun (NZ)
|
1
|
$4,500
|
|
18
|
Jackand
|
1
|
$2,700
|