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By Mark Brassel

This Sunday will see another Big Dance qualifier with Coonamble Cup Day kicking off proceedings on Saturday with a Cup Calcutta from 7pm at the Terminus Hotel.

“It’s a Country Showcase meeting with $387,000 in prizemoney and the winner and second horse in our $75,000 Cup are eligible for the Big Dance,” said Ana Robson, secretary of Coonamble Jockey Club.

Sunday is Coonamble Cup Gold Cup Day. Image by Janian McMillan (Racing Photography)

“We will also have a Fashions on the Field with our major sponsors Geronimo New Holland. The first event gets underway at 12:45pm.

“The main supporting races are the [$37,000] Crystal Sprint sponsored by the Keady Family and one of the Country Boosted races sponsored by the Nalder Family.”

The $75K Geronimo Farm Equipment / New Holland Coonamble Showcase Cup (1600m) is one of the last qualifying races for the $3 million Big Dance run at Royal Randwick on Tuesday 7 November.

Meanwhile, a Country Championships contender emerged from Grafton this week when Fairway Choice steamed home to score at Grafton last Tuesday.

Murwillumbah trainer David McColm already has a leading contender in the $2m The Kosciuszko with the talented Far Too Easy receiving a slot in the race on 14 October.

Stablemate Fairway Choice was having just her third start at Grafton and came home powerfully to win her second race.

“She will now have a three-week break with the Country Championships a definite possibility,” McColm said. “She is a very smart galloper and will have the freshen up before we go down that path.”

Jockey Ben Looker was also a fan: “She is still learning what it’s all about but has a remarkable turn of foot and will be winning more races.”

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Friday: Taree (Port Macquarie Cup)
Saturday: Albury, Collarenebri (non-TAB), Young picnics (non-TAB)
Sunday: Coonamble Gold Cup