WYONG’S THREE-DAY CUP CARNIVAL NOT FAR AWAY

THREE feature days – and nearly $1.5m in prizemoney.

That’s Wyong Race Club’s spring carnival, which begins on Sunday week, continues on Sunday, August 30 and culminates with the major Gold Cup and Mona Lisa Stakes meeting on Friday, September 4.

“This will be the third year we have run the carnival over three days, and it works well,” Wyong chief executive Greg Purcell said today.

“Our meeting on Sunday week features both the Wyong Gold Cup Prelude (2000m) and Mona Lisa Stakes Prelude (1200m).

“The winners automatically become exempt from ballot for the $250,000 Listed Wyong Leagues Group Wyong Gold Cup (2100m) and $250,000 Group 3 Domeland Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m) respectively on the final day of the carnival.

“Royal Supremacy won the Prelude last year, but didn’t contest the Cup before finishing second in the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) and then won the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Royal Randwick.

“He is a great advertisement for our carnival as he ran in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, and also won the $1.2m Group 2 Q22 (2200m) at weight-for-age at Eagle Farm in June.

“Our Mona Lisa Stakes was upgraded to Group 3 status last year, and was won by Just Feelin’ Lucky, who ran fourth in the Group 3 Newcastle Stakes (1400m) in March.

“Mares who run in the Mona Lisa often go on to the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes (1400m) at Newcastle a fortnight later.

“The middle day of the carnival (Sunday, August 20) is Star 104.5 Ladies’ Day.

“Being a Sunday, this is always a very popular meeting, and will be again this year.

“That leads us into Cup day the following Friday, and pre-sales for all three days are really good.”

Sydney’s champion trainer Chris Waller no doubt will be aiming to win the Gold Cup for a remarkable 10^th time.

He first won the race with Hawk Island in 2010, then The Verminator (2011), Wazn (2013), Multilateral (2014), Beyond Thankful (2015), Carzoff (2018), Wu Gok (2019), Durston (2022) and Saltcoats last year.

The ill-fated Durston followed on from his Wyong success by also snaring both the Newcastle Gold Cup and Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) – which was his last race - the same year.

Fellow Sydney trainer John O’Shea also has a good record in the Wyong Cup, which carries eligibility for the $3m Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick on November 3.

He won the Cup with Berdibek (2021) and Benaud (2023), and also with co-trainer Tom Charlton the 2024 edition with Lion’s Roar.

General admission for the first two days is $20 each, and $30 for Gold Cup day.

The club’s promotion of the Wyong Horse Bundle is off to a good start.

Offering a micro-share in three so far unraced young horses (to be trained locally by Kim Waugh, Kristen Buchanan and Sara Ryan) for a one-off fee of $137, the Horse Bundle was officially launched at Wyong’s race meeting last Sunday.

“We had 140 people attend the launch and to date 425 shares have been purchased,” Greg Purcell said.

“We welcome further interest in the Horse Bundle.

“It’s a great opportunity to race three young horses, and get 100 per cent of the fun.”

Whilst it’s not a raceday, Wyong also has launched the inaugural Spring Fair to be held at the racecourse on Saturday, September 19.

“It’s free admission, and the aim is to bring the community together for a fun day of entertainment, music and connection,” Purcell said.

The Spring Fair will showcase a diverse range of attractions, including live music, food trucks, childrens’ activities with rides and amusements, community displays and interactive experiences designed to bring people together and celebrate the unique character of the region.

“This festival is an opportunity for residents and visitors alike to connect, celebrate our community, and support local businesses and organisations,” Purcell added.

Provincial trainers Allan Kehoe (Wyong) and Paul Perry and Jason Deamer (Newcastle) were successful at today’s Quirindi today. Kehoe early in the day won the Maiden Plate (1100m) with The Crusher (Shannen Llewellyn), an $800 online buy in March last year, whilst Perry (Savoca, Mikayla Weir in the Benchmark 68 Handicap, 1200m) and Deamer (Altercation, Clayton Gallagher in the Class 3 Handicap, 1000m) took the last two events.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, AUGUST 4, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS