Alternate, ridden by Nick Heywood, took out the Finley Autumn Cup. Photo courtesy of Trackpix.
The Finley Autumn Cup race meeting, hosted by the Berrigan Race Club on Saturday, March 14, delivered a superb day of country racing under beautiful autumn weather.
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Sunshine and mild conditions created the ideal setting for a relaxed and enjoyable afternoon, with strong fields across the program ensuring competitive racing from start to finish.
Support from trainers, owners and jockeys was evident, with many travelling to compete and contribute to the success of the meeting.
Bunjevac opened the afternoon in outstanding form, winning the first three races, two of them aboard McIntosh‑trained gallopers.
But it was trainer Nick Heywood and jockey Stacey Kirkpatrick who claimed the feature event, guiding Alternate to a tight win over the Michael Travers‑trained mare Kahawaty, with Trifecta Ruby finishing third.
The $2.70 favourite Turnaquid, a consistent performer on district tracks, was a disappointing ninth.
Racing began with the 1100m Benchmark 58 Handicap, where Mighty Feat notched his 10th career win, defeating the Sylvia Thompson‑trained Barn Zee by half a length.
Previously trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy, Mighty Feat gave Bunjevac his first win of the day as the $3.80 favourite.
Bunjevac struck again in race two, a 1200m Maiden, aboard Wallaby Jack.
Despite 14 previous starts without a win, the Frosted gelding justified his $3.20 favouritism for trainers John and Chris Ledger, finishing more than a length ahead of Wayne’s Dream, with Second Guess in third.
Race three, a Class 1 Handicap over 1200m, saw the McIntosh/Bunjevac combination continue their dominance.
Queue Jumper, an Ocean Park gelding previously trained by the Hayes team, broke through narrowly from Cape Zoro, with Savahay running on strongly from a wide barrier to take third.
Trainer Ken Aldous and jockey Thomas Spillane combined to win race four, the 1400m Maiden Plate, with Whisper The Wind at just her third start.
She held off the Heath Maclean‑trained Summary, a well‑bred Bivouac gelding who impressed despite jumping from barrier 13.
Secret Buddy finished third, while the well‑supported $3.50 favourite Pub Feed disappointed in 11th.
The final event, a 1600m Class 50, went to the Gerald Ryan‑trained Overloaded, ridden by apprentice Brittany Button. The gelding scored by more than two lengths, taking his career earnings to just under $100,000 from 35 starts.
Freud, trained by Michael Travers and ridden by Logan McNeill, finished second, with Freddy’s Shock in third.
In a competitive race, the $4.40 favourite Paralia finished fourth, close behind the place getters.
Trackside, style, colour and creativity added even more vibrancy to the Finley Autumn Cup, with this year’s Fashions on the Field competition drawing a strong and enthusiastic line‑up.
Racegoers embraced the spirit of the day, stepping out in elegant, fun and imaginative outfits that showcased the flair of country race‑day fashion.
Judge Charlene Donovan had the difficult task of selecting winners from a field of entrants who clearly put great thought into their looks, helping create a lively and engaging atmosphere alongside the racing action.
The Berrigan and District Race Club extended its thanks to all participants and to the generous sponsors who made the competition possible.
The committee also thanks sponsors and supporters for attended, noting that community involvement remains vital in keeping country race meetings thriving.
The club also acknowledged the tireless work of its committee, whose planning and preparation ensured the day ran smoothly, and expressed sincere gratitude to all race sponsors for their continued support.
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