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By Mark Brassel

One of Murrumbidgee Turf Club’s feature races, run on just six occasions, has already proven to be a springboard for a number of talented gallopers.

The $29,000 Lamont 2YO Classic (1300m) to be run at Wagga Wagga on Friday has once again attracted a strong line-up whereby the winner will add to its short but impressive honour roll.

The inaugural Lamont Classic in 2016 was won by handy performer Vee Eight when ridden by Melinda Kinny for Goulburn trainer Danny Williams.

Lamont Classic winner Up Trumpz (Brodie Loy) wins at Sapphire Coast earlier this year. Image by Bradley Photographers

And the following year the race was claimed by subsequent Warwick Farm winner, Up Trumpz, a horse that has since won more than $300,000 in prizemoney.

In 2020 the Lamont Classic was taken out by Country Championships Final winner, Another One, now a winner of six races and $750,000 in stakes.

Last year the race was won by Zadig, runner-up to Steplee in a TAB Highway during Scone’s stand-alone Saturday program.

An interesting nomination for this year’s Classic is Offspring, an unraced youngster from the Keith Dryden camp.

The filly, by Zoustar, is a half-sister to Single Gaze, a four-time Stakes winner of more than $2.3 million in prizemoney.

Another entrant is Mr Rock It, trained by Robert & Luke Price, who was beaten an eyelash in the opening race on Wagga Town Plate Day.

Local galloper Lunar Shoes, trained by Tim Donnelly, is also among the entries. The gelding has only raced twice and last time out finished a close third to Greek Tycoon on his home soil.

The Lamont name has been synonymous with racing in the Riverina for decades, and it is fitting to have a feature race in the family’s honour.

The event honours the Lamont family from Kooringal Stud, situated just north of Wagga.

Stuart Lamont was on the board of Murrumbidgee Turf Club for 34 years, spending 15 years as president.

And Stuart’s late father Colin was MTC’s chairman through the 1970s and 80s. Stuart’s son Angus has followed the family tradition and has been serving on the MTC board for nine years.

MTC will also run a heat of its successful Stayers Series – the $24,000 Terminate Pty Ltd Stayer Series Heat over 2000m.

Muswellbrook race next Sunday with the feature event, the $26,000 Shorty Cribb Aberdeen Cup (1280m) supported by the $24,000 Snowden Racing Handicap (1000m).

UPCOMING NSW RACE MEETINGS
Tuesday: Tamworth
Wednesday: Cowra
Thursday: Nowra
Friday: Wagga Wagga, Dubbo
Saturday: Quirindi, Bowraville (non-TAB)
Sunday: Muswellbrook, Murwillumbah