TRAINERS TO TARGET THE $100,000 BONUS AT SALE CUP MEETING

SEVERAL prominent horse trainers will be eligible for the $100,000 Sportingbet Trainers’ Bonus on Eastcoast Plumbtec Sale Cup Day on Sunday including Caulfield trainer Peter Moody.

To snare the rich bonus on offer of a Toyota valued at $100,000, a trainer has to prepare the winner of the Eastcoast Plumbtec Sale Cup, Inglis Trophy Race and the 0-78 Handicap (1200m).

It would be a stellar achievement but not out of the realms, with Michael Moroney training a treble in 2007 that included two races that were part of the bonus.

Moody has two genuine chances nominated for the $122,600 Eastcoast Plumbtec Sale Cup – Group 1 placed Excelltastic and headline horse Pillar of Hercules. Last start, the two horses finished third and second respectively in the Listed Seymour Cup.

Pillar of Hercules, a 5YO entire, has been loved and loathed by racing purists over the past three seasons. Arriving on the scene among a blaze of controversy, Pillar of Hercules has struggled to fulfil those lofty expectations imposed upon him early.

By Rock of Gilbrator, he hasn’t won since claiming the Group 3 Norman Robinson (2000m) on Caulfield Cup Day in 2007. However, each race start since then he has been in blacktype company including 10 Group 1 races, which featured a third-placing in the 2008 Toorak Handicap.

On the other end of the supporter scale, Excelltastic has been a boom for his followers. In 18 career starts Excelltastic has won five races and placed seven times.

His past three starts have reaped a win at Moonee Valley, success in the Golden Nugget at Ballarat and his third-place in the Seymour Cup.

By Exceed and Excel, Moody has bright expectations for this Darley-bred 4YO entire, which could continue with Excelltastic being the lynchpin to driving home a Toyota valued at $100,000.

Sale Turf Club has plenty on offer for the horse racing fraternity. Complimenting the Trainers’ Bonus and the richest restricted 3YO race, an Elvstroem 2YO filly will be auctioned between races.

This is a great opportunity for on-course patrons to own a well-bred horse capable of providing many memorable moments at the track.

Comedian Trevor Marmalade, famous for his work behind the bar on The Footy Show, is the Club’s special guest at the Cup Day luncheon.

Marmalade is no stranger to racing having had great success on the track winning the Talindert Stakes with Eire Hostess and the Wangoom Hcp with McCarthy’s Bar.

There will also be Fashions on the Field with more than $7000 of prizes to be won, with the winner eligible to represent Sale in Country’s Best Dressed Racegoer.

The other Country Cup meeting on Sunday is the Sungold Milk Terang Cup, which has a long and proud tradition as one of the classic Cup Meetings in the South West Region.

Moody won this race last year with Macau Causeway. This year he has Fitoussi nominated in a bid for back-to-back Cups, in what could also be a Sunday Cup double for the trainer.

Among the nominations are Moe Cup winner Savquaw and Cranbourne Cup winner Sermon.

“This race meeting is developing into a must attend event within the local and surrounding area, with many business and people taking the opportunity to enjoy Spring Racing in the Country in one of our many raceday packages on offer,” Club Manager Karen Van Kempen said.

“On course there will be live music, kids’ entertainment and the Sofitel Luxury Hotels Fashions on the Field, with categories including the Micheli Jewellers Best Dressed Lady, Clancey's Menswear Best Dressed Gent and Junior Racegoer.”

For more information about country racing during the Spring Racing Carnival visit countryracing.com.au.