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By Mark Brassel

It’s a Super Sunday of racing next weekend with nearly half a million bucks in prizemoney to be distributed via two Racing NSW Country Showcase meetings.

Wauchope Jockey Club races in tandem with Coonamble Jockey Club and each of the 16 events will carry a minimum of $30,000 prizemoney.

Omar (Bailey Wheeler) wins at Scone - the speedster is entered for WJC's The Bago Bluff Sprint at Port Macquarie next Sunday. Image by Bradley Photographers

Wauchope has a big eight-race program at Port Macquarie Racecourse with $250K in stakes featuring the $40,000 Wauchope RSL Wauchope Cup (1500m).

WJC’s president, Les Latimore, welcomed the Club’s first ever Country Showcase meeting.

“We are very appreciative to Racing NSW for granting our Club the Showcase status for our Cup meeting and this will ensure quality fields for all races,” he said.

“Our major races on the day are the Wauchope Cup and the M & S Print-sponsored The Bago Bluff Sprint.

“Jule’s Spirit won this race last year and then went on to claim the James Kirby Sprint during the Grafton Carnival the following month.

“The Port Macquarie track is in superb order, and we should have better luck with the weather after our meeting was transferred from ‘Port to Kempsey due to rain last year.

“We’re anticipating a great family Sunday’s racing but on a sad note, our town lost one of its favourite sons in Rocky Laurie the other day.

“Rocky was such a quality Rugby League player and all-round champion sportsman. He was also a committeeman of our Club for a number of years, and he’ll be sadly missed by the community.”

Over at Coonamble, the Club is offering $245K in prizemoney with the race card highlighted by the $35,000 Coonamble Cannonball (1100m).

CJC’s president, Ken Waterford, said the track and its surroundings are in exceptional order.

“We’re expecting big nominations with recent race meetings up here cancelled due to the weather,” he said.

“And we’re assured of a sizeable crowd as heaps of people have been keen to get out and socialise.

“Ex-locals Clint Lundholm and Damien Lane are sponsoring races and other supporters include our major sponsor Nutrien Ag Solutions, along with Swanny’s Foods, the Terminus Hotel, Coonamble Cellars and QUBE Agri.”

Ballina Jockey Club races tomorrow and one of the highlights will be speedster Your Too Good lining up in the final event, the Roofing Craftsmen Class 2 Handicap (1000m).

The filly has been given the steadier of 62.5kg although apprentice Jasper Franklin can claim 2kg.

Formerly trained by Mark Newnham at Randwick, Your Too Good has a win on the Gold Coast and a close second at Grafton since joining the Kacy Fogden stable.

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Monday: Ballina
Tuesday: Wagga, Scone
Thursday: Warren
Friday: Goulburn, Coffs Harbour
Saturday: Narrandera, Walgett (non-TAB), Bligh picnics at Mudgee (non-TAB)
Sunday: Coonamble, Port Macquarie