EMOTIONS ran high at the Northern Tablelands city of Tamworth when Chrysolaus hit the front near the post to win the $80,000 Carlton Mid Tamworth Cup last Sunday.
It was the first Tamworth Cup victory for Jane Clement who prepares her team at nearby Bendemeer.
Chrysolaus was bred and raced by the late and well-known long serving Tamworth Jockey Club (TJC) committee member John Clift.
His daughters senior vice president of the TJC, Kim Powell, “Hereford”, Tamworth and Lindy Clift of Ross Hill Winery, Orange, celebrated wildly, along with numerous in the crowd who knew and respected the racing stalwart who passed away aged 91 earlier this year.
Crowd numbers soared to about 3587 to witness Chrysolaus – ridden by hoop Rachael Murray, Hawkesbury.
The unstoppable duo defeated recent second place getter in the ATC Country Championship Final Pera Pera, trained by Mack Griffith, Mudgee, with the Greg Bennett prepared In A Wink, third.
Zero Cash etched her name on the winning trophy of the inaugural John Clift Memorial Handicap, a $20,000 honour race.
The win gave satisfaction to part-owners Keith and Noelene Googe, Muswellbrook and to the Lion Heart mare’s absent and ill trainer Pat Farrell.
Local trainers Cody Morgan, Craig Martin and Sue Grills stepped up to snare five of the eight winners the latter two each preparing a successful double.
A big team of connections was on hand to witness the Sue Grills trained Exotic Art take the $25,000 JR Richards and Sons Jardel Cup for fillies and mares.
The fourth win for the four-year-old daughter of former shuttle sire Excellent Art is raced by a number of people including the trainer as well as the TJC president Greg Birtles.
Bush racing loses two identities
NSW country racing lost two identities from bush racing circles recently – Collarenebri Jockey Club life member and stalwart Jane Willis, and New England racing legend David Dye who had been a director of the Armidale Jockey Club.
