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By Mark Brassel

The feminine touch has made an imprint on Coonabarabran’s Gold Cup that will be run again next Sunday.

Now offering $75,000 in prizemoney, the event run over 1600m has been taken out by female riders the past three years.

Mikayla Weir started the trend in 2022 when successful aboard Knife’s Edge before Anna Roper booted Scorched Land to victory a year later.

Shannen Llewellyn returns aboard Macleay after capturing last year's Coonabarabran Gold Cup. Image by Janian McMillan (Racing Photography)

And the hat-trick arrived when apprentice Shannen Llewellyn and $41 outsider Macleay took out last year’s Coonabarabran Cup on the Jane Clement-trained gelding.

“The Cup festivities commence on Friday night with live entertainment at the Imperial Hotel,” said Lindsay Hawkins, Coonabarabran Jockey Club’s Secretary.

“Everyone returns to the Imperial from 4pm on Saturday for a ‘meet and mingle’ with the committee and then stick around for the Cup Calcutta which starts at 6pm.

“Onto Sunday morning and raceday where the famous ‘breaky burgers’ are available at the Imperial from 9am.

“Racegoers then simply jump on the courtesy bus out to the track – we will even drop you back after the races for more entertainment!

“We’re known as the ‘Friendliest Race Club in the Bush’ and going through the schedule we have planned, one can see why!

“Accommodation has been booking out quickly with many returning racegoers and several new ones; we also have a special guest in Kevin Langby who rode three Golden Slippers.

“Our racetrack has been maintained throughout winter magnificently by Kerry Vallette and we’ve had excellent feedback around the new tie-up stalls and our facilities for trainers and their horses.

“Of course there will be bookmakers, a TAB, Fashions on the Field, and a variety of food available with a bar in operation – something for everyone!

“We are looking forward to a huge day with a lot of interest already in tickets and events over the weekend.”

Feature race is the $75,000 Imperial Hotel Coonabarabran Showcase Cup (1600m) and $50,000 Super Maiden (1200m) and being a Racing NSW Country Showcase meeting, total prizemoney for the day is $345,000.

Meanwhile, on Saturday it’s the 43rd running of Harden picnic races highlighted by the Redbank North & Dunk Insurance Harden Picnic Cup (1400m).

There will be a VIP after-party featuring Stewy Barton and his band from 7pm until late, a bar and food stalls, and a bus to and from the course, with $3200 in cash to be won in the Bendigo Bank Fashions on the Field competition.

Albury also races on Saturday with a seven-race sponsors’ meeting headed by the $30,000 Hutchinson Civil Country Boosted Handicap (1000m) and the $30,000 Naughtin Development Group Country Boosted Maiden (1500m).

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Tuesday: Grafton
Friday: Scone
Saturday: Albury, Casino, Armidale, Mudgee (non-TAB), Balranald (non-TAB), Harden picnics (non-TAB)
Sunday: Coonabarabran Port Macquarie