David Braithwaite
THE Sale Cup will be held this Sunday, but without the buzz of a large crowd.
Because of COVID-19 restrictions, access to Greenwattle Racecourse will be restricted to a limited number of horse owners, participants and officials.
But that won’t stop a quality day of racing going ahead, with horses vying for a share of $200,000 in prize money in the main race.
The winner will receive $120,000.
The day will also include a $100,000 heat of the Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Series for horses in the stables of country trainers without a metro base.
The first two horses in each heat will race in the final at Flemington on Oaks Day.
The meeting will be broadcast on Racing.com (channel 68 free-to-air and 529 Foxtel) and Sky Racing (channel 526 Foxtel).
Like the Sale Cup, Moe Cup day was held without crowd on Friday.
The $130,000 Moe Cup (2050m) was won by Our Big Mike, trained by Brett Scott at Mornington.
The eight-year-old gelding was ridden to perfection by Noel Callow, holding off hometown hope Monmouth, trained by Allison Bennett, by a length and a half.
Three horses trained at Sale made their mark on the day.
Shy Doll, trained by Ian Hutchins, recorded her first win in 12 starts in the 1600m maiden plate.
Ridden by Patrick Moloney for her first run wearing blinkers, the four-year-old grey mare, who was a $17.40 chance at the tote, broke clear late to win by almost two lengths.
Bishop Rock finished third for another Sale trainer, Susie Wells.
Ally’s Reward finished third in the benchmark 70 handicap over 2050m for Allan Douch.
The eight-year-old mare was coming off a second placing at Bairnsdale.
The race was won by favourite Hunboshi.
