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The Queanbeyan Racing Club is fast becoming an attractive option for metropolitan trainers, following Peal Of Bells' stunning win in the city's major Cup last month.
Gwenda Markwell's stayer finished four lengths clear to claim a dominant Queanbeyan Cup (2000m) win, before heading to the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) just six days later and running a three-length sixth to Niwot.
Behind Peal Of Bells in the Queanbeyan Cup was Gai Waterhouse five-year-old Two For Tea, who led to the turn before running third.
Queanbeyan chief executive Brendan Comyn has welcomed the influx of bigger-name trainers opting to race their horses at the track, and encouraged more to follow their lead.
“I won't say we're getting a lot of Sydney trainers but we're certainly getting a better share than what we did in the past and that helps turnover for sure,” Comyn said.
“Since I've been here and since the track's been in a little bit better condition, Waterhouse has come back, Markwell's come back, Kerry Parker probably never went away really.”
The Waterhouse factor in particular offers a significant boost to country clubs, with Comyn estimating the presence of a Tulloch Lodge runner can boost turnover on any race by up to $30,000.
That number is even larger on feature days like the Queanbeyan Cup meeting.
“Waterhouse had one in it, it didn't win, but she had one in it and she was obviously fair dinkum,” Comyn said.
“She sent the horse down on the Thursday so the horse was here for quite a while just having a bit of a look at the joint and working around the track.
“She didn't just put it on a float that morning and send it down.”
Racing returns to Queanbeyan on Sunday to celebrate Mother's Day, and for the first time will be sponsored by the Bosom Buddies breast-cancer support network.
The club will donate half its gate takings, and any money raised on course, to the charity.
Five trainers remain in contention for the premiership heading into the penultimate meeting of the season.
Neville Layt has trained seven winners this season, while Frank Cleary leads a logjam of local trainers with six salutes to their name in Mick Smith and Myffy Rae.
Canberra's Keith Dryden has also prepared six winners at the Queanbeyan track.
The final meeting of the season takes place on July 16, and Comyn predicted Cleary to finish the season strongest.
“I reckon Frank's nearly a good thing myself,” Comyn said.
“Neville Layt's working 19, 20, 21 every morning but they're all young so he's only got one runner [on Sunday].
“Frank will round him up, stick his nose in front and win by a short half head.”
