Cup defies the clouds

By Bridget Brady
ABOUT 8500 people came through the gates on luxbet.com Cranbourne Cup Day to enjoy one of the biggest events on the town’s social calendar.
It was a day of celebration on the racetrack for Cranbourne, as local trainer Robbie Laing took out his first Cranbourne Cup with horse Sermon that broke away from field to win the race easily. Five of the 10 race winners on the day were trained out of the Cranbourne Training Centre.
Local success also occurred off the track, as former Cranbourne South resident Michelle Harrington took out the Myer Fashions on the Field title.
One of the highlights of the day occurred when parachutists descended on the track, with one of them delivering the cup to Cranbourne Turf Club chief executive Neil Bainbridge.
The Little Cup caused some controversy in the aftermath of the event, despite many onlookers enjoying the race.
Mr Bainbridge said he was delighted with the crowd numbers, which he said were a healthy increase on previous years.
He said the mostly fine weather had an impact on the impressive numbers.
“While it rained later in the day with that freaky storm, we were delighted with the weather and I think most people had decided to come at that stage and the rain was only short-lived,” Mr Bainbridge said.
“We’re really happy and from a Cranbourne point of view to have a local horse win the local cup was fantastic.”
It was pleasing to see a lot of young families enjoying the day out, Mr Bainbridge said.