By David Nagel
Picnic racing returns to the picturesque Woolamai Racing Club this Saturday 11 January to complete a ‘whirlwind’ month of action at the track.
Woolamai played host to meetings on Saturday 21 and 28 December over the holidays, with the most recent of those meetings including the running of the shortest horserace in Victoria…the Woolamai Whirlwind over 888-metres.
This year’s edition of the race – the fourth since the Whirlwind’s inception – became redemption time for winning jockey Shaun Cooper, who had ran second in two of the first three runnings of the feature.
Spirit Maker, a five-year-old mare out of Spirit of Boom/Stylemaker, broke the track record in the Whirlwind, running a brisk 54.37 to set a new benchmark for the distance.
Spirit Maker continued her fantastic form in the Whirlwind, making it four wins from six starts…all ridden by Cooper.
Trained at Mornington by Nicole Dickson, Spirit Maker subsequently won at Healesville on Saturday (January 4) to make it five wins from her last seven starts.
Cooper gave the mare a beautiful ride throughout, settling just off a hot speed set by eventual place getters Doctor Coto and War Of Wisdom.
Cooper peeled out upon turning for home; hitting the front at the 100 and drawing away for a popular triumph.
Last year’s winner of the Whirlwind, Dr Coto, found again late to gain second prize, with race-leader War Of Wisdom fading into third place.
The last race on the card went to Pakenham-trained Shez Streamin’, who began a recent run of form for young trainer Reece Goodwin.
Shez Streamin’ gave the field a galloping lesson, winning by three lengths on the line to begin a winning streak for the Goodwin yard.
Goodwin trained a race-to-race double at Stony Creek on Saturday, with Trak Chiller and Diamatti winning races five and six on the program to make it three wins and three placings for Goodwin from his last six starters.
Shez Streamin’ was ridden by Madison Morris, who combines personal training for jockeys with picnic race riding.
Tyson Barton completed a unique double of his own at Woolamai on 28 December, riding Human Shield to victory in race one before training Kahungunu to be first past the post in race four.
This week’s meeting at Woolamai (11 January) features a ‘Kids’ Day Out’ theme, with fun, games, face painting and plenty to keep the kids occupied under the famous elm trees.
Patrons can just roll up or buy tickets and group packages via the club website: woolamairaces.com.au
REMAINING PICNINC RACE MEETINGS
2024/25 SEASON
January 11 Woolamai (Sat)
January 12 Mansfield (Sun)
January 18 Yea (Sat)
January 26 Balnarring (Sun)
February 1 Healesville (Sat)
February 8 Woolamai (Sat)
February 15 Buchan (Sat)
February 22 Dederang (Sat)
February 23 Yea (Sun)
March 1 Woolamai (Sat)
March 8 Hinnomunjie (Sat)
March 9 Balnarring (Sun)
March 15 Alexandra (Sat)
March 22 Healesville (Sat)
March 29 Balnarring (Sat)
April 5 Alexandra (Sat)
April 12 Balnarring (Sat)
April 20 Swifts Creek (Sun)
