By MATT NICHOLLS
PREPARATIONS for the Armidale Cup start on Monday as several horses begin their campaign for the feature event in March.
Armidale Jockey Club secretary Jim Dedes said there were three key lead-up events to the Armidale Cup, starting with Monday’s Walcha Cup Prelude.
“After the Prelude there is the Walcha Cup down at Walcha on 7 February, then the Guyra Cup on 2 March, followed by the Armidale Cup on 17 March,” Dedes said.
“It’s a pretty busy time of the year in the area.”
Dedes is hoping for a good crowd at the racecourse on Monday for what is the Australia Day public holiday.
“We’ve got the council’s Australia Day celebrations here on Sunday and then the races the next day, so it should be a good weekend,” he said.
Although there is some rain forecast later this week, it would take a substantial amount to have an impact on the track.
A lack of rain in December and this month means the surface at the jockey club will be hard and fast.
Meanwhile, veteran Armidale galloper Rhodonite turned back the clock with victory in the $11,000 Deepwater Cup on Saturday.
The 10-year-old gelding has been a pillar of consistency for owner/trainer Lea Selby.
Saturday’s win was Rhodonite’s 12th from 88 starts, which also includes 28 placings.
Fellow Armidale galloper Cabriole, which beat Rhodonite last time in Bowraville, also saluted at Deepwater for trainer Robert Knight.
The well-backed gelding proved too good in the Benchmark 45 race and scored a win by 2.3 lengths with Matthew Powell in the saddle.
It was Cabriole’s 11th race win from 78 starts, with the eight-year-old placing a further 18 times.
