Last week’s big downpours saw planned sports events across Armidale cancelled but Sunday’s Spring Cup showcase race meet went ahead.
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The rain held off for most of the eight-race meet with the track holding up to a soft 7 rating.
The event drew entries from all over the northern half of NSW with $30,000 on offer in each race.
Stirling Osland’s Rage Against notched up his second win on-the-trot on his home track in the 1900 metre Spring Cup feature race.
In a hotly-contested field, Matt Paget guided the six-year-old home to win by nearly a length-and-a-half in front of Taree trainer Tess Wilkes’ Loving Home.
Grafton trainer David Campbell got the day’s winners underway with Red All Day crossing the line first in front of Sue Grills’ Blinkin Snazzy in the 1300m Maiden Handicap.
Jockey Ben Looker snagged the first of his two wins in the 1300m Maiden Plate aboard the Craig Martin-trained Carillon.
Looker backed up the triumph with a win in the third race of the day with Allan Kehoe’s Bangalley Lad over the 1100m.
The trip from Cessnock was worthwhile for John Bannister as Miss Mumazara surged home in front of Warren Gavenlock’s Delacroix in the Piddington’s Class 2 Handicap over 1900m.
Paget also notched up two triumphs with Sue Grills’ Onya Rosie smoking the competition in the 1400m Class 2 Handicap by two-and-a-half lengths.
In a four-way battle in the 1300m Benchmark 66 Handicap, Mark Mason’s De La Hoya pipped Mel O’ Gorman’s Pomme La Belle.
Rounding out the day’s winners in the 1100m Benchmark 58 Handicap was Geoff O’Brien’s Snipex Abaa.
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