By Casey OÇonnor
Toowoomba visitor Dreamtimer ($4.50) has taken out the 2022 Stanthorpe Cup at Armstrong Park at the weekend and earned a spot in November’s Country Cup Challenge in Brisbane.
Dreamtimer, who was well handled by Montana Savva for trainer Kevin Kemp and the Rice family, went into the race as equal favourite.
The eight-year-old gelding handled the soft going well to win narrowly from the winner of last week’s Warwick Cup, Military Kings. Military Kings tended to lay in under pressure in the final stages of the race and although the margin was narrow all honours were with the winner and connections were delighted with the result.
They are looking forward to heading to Brisbane in November for the Country Club challenge
Another bumper crowd, good weather and great fields ensured the 2022 Stanthorpe Cup race meeting was another unforgettable day at Armstrong Park.
Owners and trainers were unwavering in their support of the meeting with the winner of the Stanthorpe Mitre 10 Cup earning the right to start in the Country Cups Challenge race in Brisbane in November.
The winner of the Queensland Country Bank Stampede also qualified for the big sprint event for country qualifiers on the same day.
President of the Stanthorpe Jockey club, Chips Brunckhorst said it was another bumper day.
“We could not have asked for a more perfect day,” he said.
“The weather was great, best day we had in Stanthorpe since last summer, I reckon.
“The crowd was sensational and well behaved and the racing was outstanding”.
“By the time we (the committee and volunteers) had set everything up on Friday night it was drizzling rain and quite chilly, but Saturday dawned bright and clear, no wind and not a cloud in the sky.
“Just perfect for racing”
Crowd numbers were in the ballpark of the record crowd in 2021 according to the President.
The meeting opened with the Country Club / MJ Cleaners Maiden and it was a solid win for locally owned Mah Precious. It was an eye catching win from the four year old mare who was having only her second race start for Dalveen owners and breeders, the Harvey family.
The youngster led early and in the straight was challenged by the field but held the opposition at bay and went on to win by a length and a half.
Trained in Toowoomba by Tony and Maddysen Sears the mare put the writing on the wall with a trial win early in the week and was well ridden by Rhiannon Payne.
Followers of the Kropp Stable cheered home the winner of the K and A Building QTIS Band 0-60 handicap, Priti Piper ($5.50). Ridden by Alisha Donald the mare got the bob of the head on the line defeating the Warwick galloper Sertin and Pennyworth to make it back to back wins since transferring to the Kropp stable.
Toowoomba trainer John Dann will be heading to Brisbane with his charge The Tenor after winning the Country Stampede. Capably handled by Paul Hamblin the winner went into the race with nice form having won two starts back in Toowoomba and started favourite at $3.20. The Tenor raced away to win the 1000metre dash by over two lengths on the line.
The five-event program wrapped up with the running of the Ensby Electrical Benchmark 50 over the 1400 metre journey.
Punters following their dreams could easily have backed the last winner Dreamseeker, another favourite to salute.
Well ridden by Emily Lang for the Geran stable the horse made it back-to-back wins after a recent win at Eidsvold.
The win of the favourite in the final event put a full stop on a successful day for punters.
The Stanthorpe Cup meeting continues to grow in popularity with many former locals returning to enjoy a day at the races and introducing a group of friends to Stanthorpe.
Marguerite and Sandro Carnell were just two former Stanthorpe residents who returned for Cup Day.
Jockey club Secretary Jilanne Brunckhorst said they reported it was, “A wonderful day, great weather, great racing, good food.”
“They say they’ll be back next year,” she said.
In the meantime, Chips and Jil Brunckhorst and their team are looking forward to a well-earned rest.
