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By Mark Brassel

They may be six days late jumping from the barriers, but Tuncurry will be celebrating Mother’s Day next weekend with a big Ladies Day race meeting scheduled for Saturday.

“We should be celebrating our Mums all year round,” declared Garry McQuillan, president of Tuncurry-Foster Jockey Club.

“Each lady [over 18] entering the course receives a voucher for a glass of champagne and they go into a draw to win a fantastic weekend in Mudgee.

Racing action at Tuncurry-Forster Racetrack

“And the first 100 ladies through the gate will be given a sample bag of goodies supplied by local businesses; we also have a couple of gift vouchers for the best hat and best-dressed lady.

“We’ll be running a race called the ‘Glitz & Glamour’ whereby anyone can buy a $5 ticket, though it must be in a lady’s name.

“Prior to the race we will draw out a lady’s name and a corresponding horse – the lady with the winning horse receives a $500 gift voucher from Occasion Jewellers, a local jewellery store.

“It’s a TAB meeting with six races and there’ll be plenty of hot food and cold drinks for the Mums and Dads, with our gates opening at midday and buses running from Black Head, Smith Lake, and Forster & Tuncurry.”

Local trainer Terry Evans constantly supports Tuncurry races and has entered five runners: Kat Kiss (Benchmark 50 Handicap, 1000m); Powering (Benchmark 50 Handicap, 1300m); Madakari (Maiden Handicap, 1000m) as well as Blessingfromthesky and Hooyah (Maiden Plate, 1300m).

Of course, the day prior is Darley Scone Cup Day with three races each carrying $200,000 in prizemoney – the Cup (1600m), the Coolmore Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) and the Inglis 2yo Challenge (1100m).

Trainer John O’ Shea is likely to take a strong team to Scone including last start Royal Randwick winner Rocha Clock who is entered for the Dark Jewel Classic. The mare had a five-week freshen up before finishing powerfully to defeat Nudge on All Aged Stakes Day.

O’Shea has also nominated Black on Gold, Kirwan’s Lane and grey performer Berdibek for the Scone Cup.

The Chris Waller camp has entered four horses in the Cup: Order Again, Toryjoy, Dealmaker and Welsh Legend. Waller also has four in the Dark Jewel: Nudge, Vitesse, Lucicello and Betcha Flying.

It’s a big weekend for Cups in NSW with Parkes staging their $32,000 Parkes Services Club Cup (1600m) and Queanbeyan holding their $22,000 Defence Force Cup (1460m), both next Sunday.

Upcoming NSW country race meetings
Monday: Murwillumbah, Quirindi
Tuesday: Taree, Wellington
Thursday: Moruya
Friday: Scone, Albury
Saturday: Tuncurry, Brewarrina (non-TAB)
Sunday: Parkes, Queanbeyan