Wooping it up in Wauchope

Its attraction is certainly not the prizemoney, although welcome indeed for the winner, but in its intrinsic value – to say: “I won the Woop Woop Cup.”

Because Woop Woop, by its own definition, is “somewhere out there”, in a place akin to country romance, a place unknown but part of Aussie tradition.

And it is in that tradition that the picturesque country town of Wauchope is proud to again stage its Boxing Day celebration – the Woop Woop Cup.

Who could forget the record crowd, which flocked to the Beechwood Road Racecourse last year with standing room only being the order of the day?

Everyone had just enjoyed turkey, ham, prawns and whatever with family the day before and Boxing Day was set for one task ahead – to box on – and the big crowd did with joy and aplomb.

The festive spirit spilled over and everyone was enjoying themselves in a different diversion as they relaxed with friends, had a flutter, enjoyed a drink and watched the passing parade.

The course and environs are again in top order to provide the amenities and enjoyment for all to do it again.

“Going by last year and given good weather, we are expecting another record crowd and have planned for such,” said Wauchope Jockey Club president Bob Graham.

“It was great seeing everyone enjoy themselves in good spirit last year.

“Our track is not made to accommodate big fields (eight maximum) but there is still plenty of excitement in the races as the horses thunder past so close to the crowd.

“The meeting is run with a real country atmosphere, even down to having a barbecue and drinks on ice.”

And, don’t be misled about the quality of the participants because the winners of the Woop Woop Cup have plenty of big race experience before and after the day.

Taree “wonder gelding” Quadri, trained by Bindi Cheers, was the toast of Sydney racing through its iron-horse deeds, won the Taree Gold Cup, and was a victor in the Woop Woop Cup.

Port Macquarie’s Sky Biscuit won the cup two years ago before going on to score wins and be placed at group level in Sydney and Brisbane and the Tom Higgins-trained gelding, even though nine, recently won at Grafton.

Higgins hopes that Thunder And Rain will give him a win this year after getting back to form from a bruised foot.

Then there was last year’s winner, seven-year-old Port gelding Windon, trained at Port by Neil Godbolt, owned by TAB el supremo Ross Cribb, the galloper previously winning and being placed in country cups.

Under the new handicapping system, this year’s race is for Benchmark 45 handicappers over 1800m and by virtue of the ratings, any racehorse of note will have to carry the grandstand, thus lessening its scope.

But there will be a race on in earnest to bring home the coveted Woop Woop Cup and this year it may be a home victory.

Local trainer and vice-president of the club, Grant Prosser, would dearly love to win the cup with six-year-old gelding Al’s Bloke, owned by prolific racehorse owner Alan Greenshields who has won many cups with his horses over the decades.

It definitely will be hard to beat as it is coming to hand nicely in stepping up in distance in recent runs and will probably be ridden by the “king” of the Wauchope track in top Port jockey Peter Graham.

It is likely to carry top-weight in what is an excellent, evenly-balanced field.

Prosser looks poised to play a part in three of the five races, his other hopes being Zar’s Pride and Joy For Gold which have good enough form of late.

What is more Graham’s booking enhances their prospects.

Two year’s ago only Sky Biscuit denied the jockey from riding all five winners on the program.

He was successful on Rolled Gold for Prosser, Icebergs for Neil Godbolt, Capstone for Wauchope trainer Matthew Lindeman, Wannabe for Bob Graham and was second on Prosser’s He’s Rockin in the cup.

He had to wait until the last race last year before scoring by nearly four lengths on Bandmaster for Prosser.

Regular participants at the meeting, Godbolt, Higgins, O’Neill, Julie Hodder, Peter Ball, George Woodward, Vince Jones, Matthew Robinson and Bob Milligan again have nominated gallopers.

Going by the record nearly 60 nominations, there will be plenty of action for racegoers.

Again local firms have sponsored the races, they being Wauchope Stock and Estate Agents for the cup, Wauchope RSL Club, Wauchope Retravision, John O’Brien and C and D Pickering.

Be in the fun, be at Wauchope on Boxing Day for a memorable experience.

May you all have a safe and merry Christmas and back plenty of winners.